Instead of fleeing new challenges, Dan Parker prefers to run right at them.
The well-known coach spent two decades turning the Snohomish High School cross country program into one of the state’s best. But starting this fall he’ll take on a new project.
Parker has been hired to be head cross country coach at Glacier Peak High, a new Class 3A school that will open this fall and will be a member of the Western Conference South Division. Glacier Peak is located in Snohomish.
Since 1988 Parker coached the Snohomish boys and girls cross country teams. His girls teams won four state championships (1995, 1996, 2002 and 2003). The 2003 squad set a 4A state record for best team score when its five fastest runners finished in the top 13.
“I’m kind of excited about a whole new adventure, really,” Parker said. “I’ve been at Snohomish for 20 years and we’ve done pretty well. It’s kind of like there’s maybe no more hills to climb, or they’re not as steep any more and I want steeper ones.”
Parker said he plans to coach the Snohomish girls track team this spring but he will eventually apply for the Glacier Peak head track job.
Even though Glacier Peak won’t have seniors its first year, the Grizzlies boys and girls cross country teams should be competitive immediately, Parker said. Students who live south of the Snohomish River will attend the new school.
Rebuilding isn’t foreign to Parker. He said his first Snohomish girls team, in 1988, had just five members — the minimum required to qualify for team scoring at a meet. But turnout quickly surged and by his third season the Panthers qualified for the state championships. In 1995 and 1996 they took a huge leap, winning back-to-back team titles.
Success at Glacier Peak will come even quicker, especially for the boys, Parker predicted. “I’m taking people along with me that have been in the program. It won’t be a surprise,” he said, referring to his expectations and intense training methods.
Four of the top six runners from Snohomish’s 2007 boys squad are headed to Glacier Peak. They are sophomores Ryan Weed and Levi Hinson, and freshmen Jeff Bastian and Chase Byrd. In November the young foursome helped Snohomish place ninth in the state.
Several talented girls runners are also bound for Glacier Peak, including Snohomish freshmen Sarah Whybark and Brenna Condon, and sophomore Madison Sheppley. Whybark and Condon placed 31st and 36th, respectively, at the 2007 state meet.
Parker’s successor at Snohomish is David LeWarne, who had been Mountlake Terrace’s coach. “They hired a great guy. He’ll do an outstanding job,” said Parker, who called LeWarne a friend.
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