February 14, 2021 – Boone, NC –
Appalachian FC announced Dale Parker will be the head coach of the semi- professional minor league team. Parker will be the first coach in Appachalian FC history which puts the pressure of creating a great team on his back. The buzz in High County, NC, is at an all-time high over Coach Parker and it isn’t expected to stop soon. Owner Jason O’ Keefe is ecstatic to have Parker as the first head coach to provide leadership and knowledge to players to help them succeed and reach their highest potential.
He earned his US Soccer Federation Coaching A license, which is the highest-level license in coaching, back in 2015. This license is a huge accomplishment for Coach Parker and will give him the leverage he needs to produce a great team. He has extensive coaching experience in all levels of soccer and has even coached multiple US Youth National Team Players in the US Soccer Developmental Academy.
Coach Parker enters his second season coaching for Landers University. He was the assistant coach in 2019 and in 2020 became the head coach for Lander University Development Team. He coached them to become the number two ranked NCAA Division II team in the country and reach the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship match for the fifth season in a row. This was a huge honor and Coach Parker was a strong key component in making this happening.
Coach Parker is originally from England and played for Worksop Town FC in the 5th division of pro soccer. After playing in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, he moved to the US to play for Lees- McRae College national finalist team. While playing for them he earned the title of All- American twice. He also was a three-year captain at Lees-McRae and helped them receive three regular season titles and advance to the National Championship in 2009. Having this strong background in soccer will be a great tool to help sculpt the incoming players for Appalachian FC to become a great team.
The Appalachian FC soccer team and Coach Parker will fill the void left in High County after Appalachian State men’s soccer program was removed recently. Appalachian FC will bring back the love of soccer and quality entertainment for fans and residents of High County. Coach Parker’s knowledge and wide experience in the soccer world will help the team achieve a great season and create a soccer legacy.
