In Adam Parker’s 14 seasons as Head Coach of the Bears, the program has progressed into a consistent conference tournament team. The 2015 season was the third consecutive year that the Bears tied or broke the program record for wins finishing with 10-8-1 record. In 2015 the Bears finished fifth in the SUNYAC and returned to the conference tournament for the fourth time in five years. Playing one of the most difficult schedules in the region the Bears beat Liberty League finalists St. Lawrence and Skidmore, Skyline Conference Champion Sage and SUNYAC Tournament finalist Brockport. 

For the first time in program history the Bears cracked the NSCAA Regional Rankings, climbing as high as No. 8. Again the Bears placed the team members on the all-conference team. Seniors Ben Firlit and Alex Griffith along with sophomore Matt Wagner all were placed on the third team. 

Parker's recruiting classes have been the key to the program’s success. The 2015 senior class passed the 2014 class as the winningest in school history. 2014 graduate Eduardo Figueroa finished as the all-time leader in points and goals. New Assistant Coach Tom Benedetto graduated as the program’s all-time assists leader.  Goalkeeper Nick Davies passed Joe Glackin in 2015 for the most wins all-time. In his time at Potsdam, Parker has coached 15 all-conference and 28 SUNYAC All-Academic Award winners. 

“The program has grown leaps and bounds from my first season,” said Parker. “The culture within the program is one that I am proud of. We place a great deal of emphasis on the character of the players and how they conduct themselves, not just on the field, but in the classroom and in their lives. We always want players who are hungry to take the program to new heights and leave their mark on the program like so many of the recent graduates have done.” 

“The type of players we want to bring in, want to challenge themselves to become the best player they can in their four years at Potsdam. We look to play many of the top teams in the region as I believe our guys look at each game as a chance to prove themselves against the best.”

Parker joined SUNY Potsdam’s staff in 2010 after spending three seasons at North Country Community College, where he guided the Saints to a 31-17-2 overall record.

In 2009, Parker led the Saints to their second Region III Tournament Final in program history and No. 6 final ranking in the National Junior College Athletic Association national poll with a 15-3-1 record. The Saints also won their first-ever Mountain Valley Conference Championship with a 7-0-1 record. Parker was recognized as the Mountain Valley Conference’s Coach of the Year as well as the NJCAA Region III Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.

In Parker’s three seasons at North Country, he coached three National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Americans, eight NJCAA All-Region Players, a NJCAA Region III Player of the Year and three NJCAA National Players of the Week. He helped promote five players to NCAA Division I and II universities as well as six others to NCAA Division III schools.

Prior to North Country, Parker was the Assistant Academy Director for the Palm Beach Pumas in West Palm Beach, Fla. Parker directed the Youth Outreach Program and was Assistant Coach for the College Prep Program. In his two years as an assistant, Parker and head coach Bobby Lennon promoted 14 players to N.C. State, Liberty University, American University as well as several other NCAA Division I, Division II and NAIA schools.

Prior to coaching in Palm Beach, Parker was the men’s assistant coach at SUNY Fredonia from 2002-2004. While at Fredonia, he and head coach P.J. Gondek developed nine All-SUNYAC and four NSCAA-All Region players. Parker also helped guide Fredonia to the 2003 SUNYAC Tournament final.

As a player, Parker was a New York State product, having won three sectional titles at Pittsford-Mendon High School in Rochester, N.Y. He went on to play four years at SUNY Fredonia. At Fredonia, Parker played on four SUNYAC regular season championship teams. In 2000, he was named First Team All-SUNYAC and First Team NSCAA All-East Region.

Following the conclusion of his collegiate career, Parker moved on to play for the Palm Beach Pumas in the Premier Development League (PDL). From 2003-2006, he led the team as captain.

Parker is an alumnus of SUNY Fredonia, where he graduated with a bachelor’s in Economics in 2001 and received his master’s in interdisciplinary studies in 2007. In 2014 Parker received his NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. Parker also holds an USSF “C” National Coaching License. Parker has served on the NSCAA Regional Rankings Committee since 2012 and is currently the committee’s chair.

Parker resides in Saranac Lake, N.Y., with his wife Kristin, daughters Eloise and Annika and their two golden doodles Matilda and Harry. In their free time they enjoy travelling, boating, skiing and photography.