Two Coaches Join Forces — for a Historic Moment
Jack Parker and Jerry York to be inducted into the Sports Museum Hall of Fame
Longtime friends and rivals Jack Parker and Jerry York will soon be honored side by side for lifelong contributions to collegiate sports.
Parker, head coach of Boston University men’s hockey team, and Jerry York, his counterpart at Boston College, will be inducted into the Sports Museum’s Hall of Fame on June 24 at TD Banknorth Garden.
Parker (SMG’68, Hon.’97), who is also BU’s executive director of athletics, and York each led their team to a recent NCAA ice hockey championship, York in 2008 and Parker this spring. It was Parker’s third national title; this year saw him rack up his 816th win, the most of any coach at one school and third overall. York comes in at second overall, with 821 (354 of those at BC).
The two have been friends and competitors for more than 45 years. Parker, from Somerville, Mass., and York, from Watertown, Mass., played against each other in high school (Catholic Memorial for Parker and BC High for York) and in college, where each played for the school they now coach.
“This is everything a rivalry should be,” Rusty Sullivan, the museum’s director, told the Boston Globe. “It has class, competitiveness, and a healthy respect.”
Mike Lynch, sports anchor for WCVB’s News Center, will present the awards to the two at the ceremony. He calls them “homegrown heroes” and says the pairing couldn’t be more appropriate.
“I’m honored to have been chosen to present their awards,” says Lynch. “But as good as their teams are, the players they coach are even nicer off the ice. If I had a son who was going to play college hockey, I would want him to play for Jack or Jerry — nobody else on the planet!”
The ceremony is Wednesday, June 24, at 5:30 p.m. at TD Banknorth Garden. Other honorees this year include former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, recently retired New England Patriots wide receiver Troy Brown, figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, Celtics great Sam Jones, and former “big bad” Bruins forward Ken Hodge.
Tickets can be purchased here. Admission is $150 and up, so the night is an investment. But after all, these are legends.
Devon Maloney can be reached at devon.maloney@gmail.com.
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