Photo courtesy of Parker Jones

Rio Rancho, New Mexico-  New Mexico is a big state, and there are a ton of coaches doing phenomenal things. At CPS, we want to highlight a coach each week to showcase some of the great things happening, spotlighting people who might go under the radar.

Next, we have Cleveland’s Parker Jones who is the assistant sprints coach for the boys track and field team, and the hurdling coach for the girls and boys teams. Before coaching at Cleveland, Jones was a standout soccer player and track athlete for the Storm. He would then go on to compete in track and field collegiately. Here are the questions we asked him.

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Q: Could I get your first and last name, your role, and the team that you coach for?

A: Parker Jones, assistant sprints coach for Cleveland boys track and field / boys and girls
hurdle coach.

Q: Did you compete in track or any sports in high school? If so, what was your experience?

A: Yes both soccer and track and field, two state championships in track (Junior and Senior
year). Collegiate track and field athlete.

Q: Can you walk us through your coaching career? Any favorite memories that stick out?

A: I have coached going on 12 years; I have coached for Cleveland track and field going on
eight years (*excluding covid) During this time I have coached three different individual state champions in the hurdles and several top finishers (I have assistant coached 7 track state championships). I have coached soccer for 4 years at Cleveland, being a part of both state championships.

Q: What is your philosophy or just some coaching tenets that you live by?

A: *Your lane and your lane only – It is kind of my mantra for the athletes to focus on their
race and what they need to do when they step out onto the track. No one around them
matters or has any effect on what they can do in this race right now. Winning is important,
not just in sports but in life too. I want all the athletes I coach to achieve some success one
way or another. Goals are obtained not by chasing the outcome, but by focusing on all the
tedious and mundane little things in the process to that outcome.

Q: Every hurdler from Cleveland made the finals this past week at metros. What do you
have to say about your group?

A: I am very proud of how far every hurdler has come in pushing their limits and striving to
run their best when they step onto the track. I have a very special group of athletes, and I
wish nothing but success for every single one of them in everything they do.

Q: If you formed a dodgeball team (five people) with any Cleveland staff members or
student athletes, who would you choose?

A: No response.

Q: Any team traditions or any pre-meet rituals you have?

A: I don’t have any personally but I strive to just be there and do what I need for my athletes
when they need it.

Q: Besides coaching, what are some things you enjoy?

A: I love to snowboard, travel, work out at the gym, watch movies, hang out with friends.
Normal people things.

Q: Was there a coach that was influential in your life?

A: Yes, all the track and field coaches at Cleveland high school.

Q: You’ve seen Cleveland through the POV of a student and a coach, what makes this
program so special?

A: It inspires athletes to want to be their best selves.

Q: Finally, what has track meant in your life, and what are you hoping to pass down to the athletes?

A: I want my athletes to believe in themselves, or at the very least, believe in the me that
believes in them until they can.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share?

A: Go Storm!