Nicola Parker, a native of nearby Auburn, Wash., joins the Seattle Pacific coaching staff in 2009. But she was already at SPU before becoming a member of head coach Chris Johnson's staff, having accepted a math teaching position in the spring of 2009, and she will continue in that position.
Parker was a All-American libero at Western Washington University in 2002 and 2003. She graduated in 2004, and at that time had the school career records for digs per match (38), single-season digs (542), digs per game (6.16) and career digs (1,453). Her 6.16 digs per game as a senior in 2003 led all of NCAA Division II.
In addition to earning All-American honors on the court, Parker also was an academic All-American, and served as an assistant coach at WWU in 2004 and 2005.
During her years at Auburn High School, Parker was an outside hitter, and in addition, was a solid tennis player. She spent the summer of 2008 playing volleyball for a team based in Prague, Czech Republic, then spent some time hiking in Europe.