Deneen Parker returned to the Hilltop in 2022 as the Associate Head Coach for the program where Parker spent 21 years as an Assistant Coach.
In Parker's first season back on the Hilltop, SMU finished with a 17-13 record and earned its second consecutive WNIT appearance. The Mustangs made the postseason in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2014 and 2015. The Mustangs ranked second in scoring defense in the AAC, holding opponents to only 58.3 points per game. Three different Mustangs finished in the top 10 in the league in four separate individual categories. Parker helped guide Savannah Wilkinson, Jasmine Smith and Ella Brow Brow to All-AAC honors.Â
Prior to returning to the Hilltop, Parker spent two years as an assistant at Houston, helping guide the Cougars to the last two of four consecutive postseason appearances. She was at Indiana State during the 2019-20 season after three seasons as Associate Head Coach at Northwestern State.
Parker spent 21 years as an assistant coach with the SMU women's basketball program under legendary Head Coach Rhonda Rompola, helping guide the Mustangs to 10 postseason appearances.
Parker had played an integral part in the establishment of a winning tradition at SMU. During her tenure, SMU was a five-time participant in the NCAA Tournament (1995-96, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00 and 2007-2008) and a five-time participant in the Women's National Invitational Tournament (2004-05, 2008-2009, 2009-10, 2012-13 and 2013-14).
During the 1998-99 season, SMU achieved a first for the program -- a Western Athletic Conference Tournament Championship. Another first was achieved in the 1999-2000 season as the Mustangs captured their first WAC regular-season conference championship.
The Mustangs won two conference tournament titles during Parker's time as an assistant (WAC - 1999, C-USA - 2008) and three regular season championships (WAC - 2000, C-USA - 2009 and 2013).
Prior to joining the SMU staff in August 1995, Parker was a four-year letterwinner at Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas (1990-94). Named the 1993-94 Athlete of the Year her senior year, Parker was also a two-time Southland Conference Player of the Year selection as well as a two-time District VI Kodak All-American. While at SFA, her team won the Southland Conference championship and reached the Sweet 16 at the NCAA Tournament all four years. In 2010, Parker was named to the Stephen F. Austin Hall of Fame to commemorate her legendary career with the Ladyjacks.
Parker was a member of the gold medal women's basketball team (South) at the 1990-91 U.S. Olympic Sports Festival.
In 1994, after playing professional basketball overseas, Parker returned to Texas and coached a ninth-grade youth summer league in Arlington.
Parker graduated with a bachelor's degree from SFA in 1994, majoring in communications with a minor in marketing.
Although Parker's roots are in Rockford, Ill., she resided in Arlington, Texas, for most of her life and considers Texas her home. Parker is a 1989 graduate of James W. Martin High School in Arlington.
Parker and wife Danielle Webber-Parker and their dog, Laker Bryant Parker.
