A connection to a past era of national success will return to lead the Whitworth University women’s basketball program as its next head coach.
Alecia Parker, who spent the past eight seasons as the head coach at Pacific University in Oregon and was the top assistant on the last Pirate team to make the NCAA Division III tournament, will be that coach, according to Director of Athletics Tim Demant.
“We are excited to welcome Alecia back to the Pirate family,” Demant said. “Since her time here an assistant coach, and then as a rival head coach, Alecia has demonstrated an upward trajectory that has led her to be one of the top coaches in the Northwest Conference.”
At Pacific University, Parker took a program that had three winning seasons in the 20 years prior to her arrival and built an annual contender within the NWC.
“I am incredibly excited and grateful for this opportunity,” Parker said. “I want to thank President Scott McQuilkin, Tim Demant, and the entire search committee for believing in me and trusting me to lead this program. It is a blessing to return to Whitworth University, and I am excited to begin building meaningful relationships, investing in our student-athletes, and working to restore the tradition and success of Whitworth women’s basketball.”
Parker posted a record of 106-84 in her eight seasons leading the Boxers from 2018-19 through 2025-26. During the five-year stretch from 2020 through 2024, Pacific went 77-36 and reached the Northwest Conference Tournament championship game three straight seasons (2022-24). In 2022 she coached Camy Aguinaldo to NWC Player of the Year and D3hoops.com All-America status.
Over the course of her eight seasons at Pacific, Parker had an 11-3 record against Whitworth. The teams did not play during the 2020-21 season, which was impacted by Covid-19.
“Alecia rose to the top of an extremely qualified pool of candidates that included several Division I and II head coaches,” Demant said. “Her ability to recruit great athletes and students, get the most out of her teams on the floor, and build meaningful relationships with her players, made her an ideal choice for this position. I look forward to having her rejoin the Pirate family and build a championship caliber program at Whitworth.”
Prior to becoming head coach at Pacific, Parker served as the Pirates’ top assistant coach from 2014 through 2018 under Helen Higgs. Whitworth last reached the NCAA Division III tournament in her first season in 2013-14.
Prior to Whitworth, Parker began her coaching career as an assistant at Carroll College in Helena, Montana in 2013. She grew up in Montana and was a standout player at Montana Western in Dillon, where she was a four-year letter-winner and three time team captain.
Parker looks forward to returning the Pirates to the level of success that existed when she and Higgs were coaching.
“My first priority is to begin building strong relationships with the current team and committed recruits,” she said. “I want to get to know each student-athlete individually — their goals, motivations, and areas where they want to grow both on and off the court. From there, I plan to provide each player with individualized summer development programming. In addition, I will be aggressive on the recruiting trail this summer by building strong relationships with coaches, recruits, and families while creating excitement about the future of Whitworth University women’s basketball. Recruiting student-athletes who align with our culture, values, work ethic, and competitive standards.”
Parker takes over a team that finished 5-20 in 2025-26, including a 4-12 mark in the NWC. The Pirates have not posted a winning campaign in ten years. She understands that rebuilding the women’s basketball program at Whitworth will take a broad-based approach.
“What excites me most about coaching at Whitworth is the opportunity to return to a university that is rooted in faith-based learning,” she said. “I am excited for the opportunity to work with the most successful athletic department in the conference. And I am excited to reconnect with alumni, supporters, and the greater Whitworth community to help build momentum around the women’s basketball program.
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