Snow Canyon volleyball coach honored by Utah Sports Hall of Fame

Former Snow Canyon volleyball coach Alaina Parker (seated second from left) among fellow Hall of Fame honorees, Salt Lake City, Utah, April 6, 2022 | Photo provided by Utah Sports Hall of Fame, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A legendary coach from Snow Canyon High School has earned recognition from the Utah Sports Hall of Fame Foundation.

Snow Canyon volleyball coach Alaina Parker was recognized as a Distinguished High School Coach, St. George, Utah, April 6, 2022 | Photo provided by Deb Bennett, St. George News

Alaina Parker, who led the Warriors volleyball team to five consecutive 4A state championships from 2006-2010 and then a sixth in 2014, was honored as a Distinguished High School Coach at a ceremony April 6 in Salt Lake City.

“It’s very humbling,” Parker told St. George News before she collected her award. “Utah has such a great sports tradition. There are some really fabulous mentors here and to be considered by my peers as being at that level is very, very humbling.

“I started coaching really young and you don’t necessarily think someday you’ll be a Distinguished High School Coach. So to be recognized is just really awesome.” 

Parker described the run of five consecutive state titles she coached in volleyball as “a perfect storm of circumstances.”

“We had great athletes, kids who were really invested in the program,” Parker said. “They trained together from an early age. The student body was ready to grasp onto something good and parents bought in.”

“Then just the good leadership we had and the strong talent all combined together,” she added. “You don’t always have everything fall into place. It wasn’t always rosy, but they had a common goal and they were very focused and very driven.”

A defining characteristic of those many state champion athletes was that “they wanted to see each other succeed,” Parker said.

Parker’s recognition comes at a time of success for many Snow Canyon programs. The baseball team is defending its 4A state title and the Warriors boys basketball team won state already this year.

“What I remember most about Snow Canyon is the feeling of real strong community we were part of,” Parker said. “This feeling that we were doing good, not just the volleyball team, that we were a source of pride for our students and parents.”

“It was hard at times, but the opportunity to be a part of something that continued to grow and be successful, it was just awesome.”

Parker said she is friends with Snow Canyon baseball coach Reed Secrist, basketball coach Doug Meacham and all of the coaches who help the Warriors stay competitive while not worrying too much about wins and losses.

“We have a really good staff of coaches trying to build programs with their young kids that teach them how to be successful in the classroom,” she said. “And then in sports, to work hard and train hard. They all teach what the concept of team is, that everybody plays a role.” 

Deb Bennett, a member of the Board of Directors for USHOFF, was one of the board members to recommend Parker get the recognition.

“She had such a positive influence on the Snow Canyon community,” Bennett told St. George News. “Just the manner in which she coached, her leadership and her real positive, upbeat attitude.”

Bennett said the five-year run of state titles was the catalyst for Parker’s nomination.

“To be able to do that year in and year out, to have that level of skill she used to get her players and teams ready to play,” Bennett said. “She’s such a charismatic coach, in the sense that Snow Canyon backs her and supports her in setting that tradition and culture.” 

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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