Following the relaunch of Blinn's men's and women's cross country programs in 2024, Jesse Parker will lead the Buccaneers into their second season this fall.
Parker arrived at Blinn following 20 seasons as head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach at Division I Sam Houston State University.
In 2024, the Buccaneers qualified for the NJCAA Division I Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Championships, while sophomore runner Eric Lagat earned an individual qualification for the NJCAA Division I Men's & Women's Outdoor Track & Field National Championships in the steeple chase event. During the fall cross country season, Parker's teams competed against numerous NCAA programs and bested several NCAA Division I teams at various events.
During his time at Sam Houston State, Parker served in various roles, most prominently as the recruiting coordinator, home cross country meet director, and team travel coordinator. During his tenure, Parker helped lead the Bearkats track and field squad to 21 conference team championships. In 2017, he coached Jeffrey Moore to Sam Houston State's first All-American honor by any endurance runner with a 10th-place finish and a school-record 1:47.40 in the 800 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Additionally, in 2016-2017, two of the three Southland Conference Women's Student-Athlete of the Year honors went to Parker's athletes.
Parker's influence on NCAA Track & Field extends beyond Sam Houston State. In 2016-2017, he worked alongside Dan Waters, Brett Halter, Ricard Santos, Jeff Bovee, and Amy Horst as part of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's recruiting calendar working group.
Parker graduated from Sam Houston State with a degree in kinesiology in 2005 and earned a master's degree in kinesiology in 2007.
