POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (August 23, 2016) — Director of Athletics and Physical Education Michelle Walsh announced Tuesday morning that Jane Parker will be resigning as the head Vassar College squash coach to accept the Director of Squash & Fitness position at SquashSmarts in Philadelphia, PA, effective October 15. Parker served as the head coach for the Brewers from 2000-2016, accumulating 223 total wins between the men's and women's squads.

"I am grateful for the rewarding opportunities I have enjoyed at Vassar during my sixteen-year tenure," Parker said. "I have many great memories, but the highlights all involve student-athletes who have faced adversity, yet found the inner strength to push on through despite it. It was a difficult decision to leave the Brewer squashers, but I am happy that they have a strong bond and team leadership, that a great season will be had, regardless."

Parker led the women's squash team to three Howe Cup Championships, three Seven Sisters Championships and a trifecta of Liberty League Championships. Since 2003 when the Liberty League first sponsored squash as a sport, the squads have earned 34 All-League honors. Parker pushed the men's team to two New York State Championships, and the team has earned four All-Liberty League nods since the same year. 

Having coached 16 seasons at Vassar, Parker is the longest-tenured head coach in Vassar squash history since the program was established in 1972-73. She has led the women's team to six double-digit winning seasons, the highest coming in 2003-04 at 13, while the men's team won 10 games in 2011-12. 

"For the past 16 years, Jane has been the heart and soul of the squash program at Vassar; we will greatly miss her and her unwavering dedication to her student-athletes," Walsh said. "We wish her the best of luck as she transitions into a position with an Urban Squash program in Philadelphia.  We are thrilled to support her in this endeavor and know that she will bring her passion for the sport of squash to a group of students that will undoubtedly benefit from her knowledge, commitment, and sense of caring for all of her students."

Parker will be leaving Vassar on October 14, 2016 to take up the position at SquashSmarts, which is a program "dedicated to improving the lives of underserved youth from Philadelphia public schools by providing intensive, long-term academic tutoring and squash instruction, while imparting high standards of personal integrity, health and fitness, and service to the community."

Prior to coming to Vassar in 2000-01, Parker spent the previous five years as the director of squash for the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association. During her tenure, she guided the men's under-19 squad to its highest finish at the 1998 World Championships. 

Parker also served as coach and Regional Development Officer with the English Squash Rackets Association. Besides her coaching responsibilities, she introduced mini-squash to attract novices to the sport.

As a player, she finished her career as the No. 16 player in England and No. 34 in the world while becoming the Kent County champion.

A national search for an interim head coach of the men's and women's squash teams will begin immediately. 

--VASSAR--