Sarah Parker joined the Blaze coaching staff in the fall of 2022. She is from Edwardsville, Illinois and has been in Minnesota for the past 10 years. 

Parker started her coaching career at Century High School in Rochester, MN. She left following the 2021-2022 school year as the JV head coach and Varsity assistant. 

Prior to the start of her coaching career, Parker was a Middle Blocker for Southwest Minnesota State University and received her Bachelor of Social Worker (BSW) and Minor in Coaching. She played for the Mustangs for four years at the Division II level in the NSIC conference under Hall of Fame, Head Coach, Terry Culhane, from 2013-2016.  Parker is a three time All-Conference and All-Conference Academic honoree. Parker has played in four NSIC conference tournaments, and in 2016 her and her teammates shared the regular season NSIC Championship. She has competed in four Central Region Tournaments in the Division II National Championship Tournament, while winning a Central Region Championship in 2014 to go on to play in the Division II National Championship. SMSU finished as runner up in the National Championship tournament - furthest in school history. During her time at Southwest, Parker and her teammates placed in the AVCA Women’s Division II Coaches Top 25 every week of her college career.

After her time at SMSU, Parker continued her education at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where she received her Master of Social Worker (MSW). Parker is a licensed Graduate Social Worker and is in her second year as the School Social Worker for Edward Neill Elementary in Burnsville.

When not coaching volleyball, She loves to continue to play in adult volleyball leagues and tournaments. She enjoys watching Netflix, trying new restaurants, hanging out with friends and loved ones, sports, playing games, and working out. 

Coach Parker believes that sports and coaching not only build and grow good athletes, but provide an opportunity to help grow young minds and build character that will help them be successful in the real world. She is passionate about the game, but loves providing a space for young women to become the best version of themselves. 

Go Blaze!