Jack Parker’s extraordinary 40-year career as coach of the Boston University Terriers is legendary, not just in college men’s hockey but throughout the hockey world. Born March 11, 1945 in Somerville, Massachusetts, Parker served as a centre on the Terriers between 1965 and 1968. During those three seasons, he played on three Beanpot championship squads as well as twice participating in the NCAA championship. During the 1967-68 season, Parker scored 14 goals and collected 25 points in 31 games while serving as captain of the Terriers.

Following graduation and a year coaching high school hockey, Parker returned to Boston University as an assistant coach and helped the Terriers to consecutive national championships in 1971 and 1972. As personnel changed at Boston University, Parker was named head coach in December 1973. His successes are legendary: the Terriers won three ECAC regular season championships (1976, 1978, 1979), were four-time ECAC champions (1974, 1975, 1976, 1977), eight-time Hockey East regular season champions (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2006, 2009), seven-time Hockey East champions (1986, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2006, 2009), three-time NCAA champions (1978, 1995, 2009) and twenty-one time Beanpot winners (1975, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009).

Boston University beat Miami University 4 – 3 in overtime. Jack Parker gets water poured onto him after winning. (Mitchell Layton | HHOF-IIHF)

Jack Parker and the Boston University Terriers celebrate winning the 2009 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four Final. (Mitchell Layton | HHOF-IIHF)

Parker was awarded the Spencer Penrose Award as NCAA Coach of the Year on three occasions: 1974–75, 1977–78 and 2008-09. He was also named Hockey East Coach of the Year (later renamed the Bob Kullen Coach of the Year Award) in 1985–86, 1991–92, 1999–2000, 2004–05 and 2005-06. He was inducted into the Boston University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994 and presented with the Hobey Baker Legend of College Hockey Award in 2014.

Jack Parker retired following the 2012-13 hockey season. “Forty years is a long time to be at the same institution in the same job,” he stated. “I haven’t lost a step, but I don’t want to lose a step.” He finished with an incredible record of 897 wins, 472 losses and 115 ties. At the time of his retirement, he was the third-winningest coach in NCAA history.

Through his legendary career, Parker spent 48 years of his life at Boston University, first as a player, then as an assistant coach before he began his long and very successful reign as head coach of the Boston University Terriers. In 2017, he was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, and that was followed in 2025 with his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Builder Category.