The Parkland College athletic department is proud to announce that Laura Litchfield will be the next head coach of the Parkland College women’s basketball team. The former Parkland College player has spent the last two and a half seasons as an assistant coach for the Cobras. Over that span, Parkland went 62-20, winning the Region 24 District Championship and placing 3rd at the NJCAA DII National Tournament in the 2020-2021 season. Litchfield is the 12th head coach in Parkland College women’s basketball history.
“Parkland College is extremely proud and excited to announce that Laura Litchfield will be taking over the head coaching duties for the Cobras women’s basketball program. Litchfield is very aware of the past successes of Cobras women’s basketball and knows firsthand what it takes to be successful. Coach Litchfield also knows what it takes to ensure that we are not just competitive, but our Cobra teams are focused and prepared before each and every game. We could not be happier knowing that Coach Litchfield will be leading our Cobra women’s basketball program now and in the future.”
Laura Litchfield, from Champaign, Illinois, attended Champaign Central High School before coming to Parkland College from 2014 to 2015, where she played basketball and studied to become a licensed massage therapist. As a Cobra, Litchfield totaled the most assists in a season and the most assists per game in Parkland women’s basketball history during the 2014-2015 season. Selected as an NJCAA DII First Team All-American, Litchfield also finished with the 10th most field goals made in a season as a Cobra. Litchfield averaged 13.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game as the Cobras went 35-2 and were the NJCAA DII National Runners-up in her one season with Parkland. After her time with the Cobras, Litchfield continued her academic and athletic career at the University of Illinois-Chicago, graduating in 2017.
“I’m extremely grateful,” Litchfield said when asked what the appointment meant to her. “Being a former player and assistant coach here simply makes Parkland feel like home. It really is home for me. Being an assistant under Allie Lindemann for the past two and a half seasons has been so valuable and a wonderful experience. I am thankful for the opportunities I’ve had to give back to the school that has given so much to me; to do it now as the head coach is an honor. Our program has a phenomenal tradition of success, not only on the court but academically as well, and I plan to help continue that.”
