UO release - EUGENE, Ore. – Paige Parker, a two-time national champion and a four-time All-American at Oklahoma, has been named Director of Player Development for the softball program, coach Melyssa Lombardi announced Wednesday.  Lombardi was Parker's pitching coach at Oklahoma during a stellar career (2015-18) that saw Parker earn Big XII Pitcher of the Year honors in four consecutive seasons.  "Paige brings an understanding of how to use advanced metrics and performance data to give our players a competitive edge," said Lombardi. "Her ability to translate numbers into actionable development plans and in-game strategy will elevate the way we prepare, compete, and grow as a program. Paige will be an incredible asset for Oregon Softball."  "I couldn't be more excited to reunite with Coach Lombardi and join her staff at the University of Oregon," said Parker. "I'm so thankful to Coach Amy Hogue and the University of Utah for everything over the past four years — it's been an incredible journey.  "I'm looking forward to what's ahead at Oregon as we continue building toward something great. Competing for the Women's College World Series year after year is the goal, and I'm all in. Getting to do it with Coach Lombardi makes it even more special."  Parker comes to Oregon after serving as Utah's associate head coach for the past four seasons (2022-25).  In Parker's first year with the Utes, 2022, the team's ERA decreased by nearly three full runs and pitcher Mariah Lopez earned an all-conference spot. One year later in 2023, the Utes posted a 2.86 ERA, the program's lowest for a full season since 2016, as Utah went 42-16 and made a run to the Women's College World Series.  Under Parker's guidance, Lopez put together a campaign that landed her on the NFCA All-America third team, as well as the all-conference and all-region first teams. Her stat line included 23 victories, second-most in the Pac-12 and tied for 16th in the nation. Pitcher Sydney Sandez earned all-conference honors in 2023 as well, and Parker's pitching staff helped the Utes capture the first-ever Pac-12 Tournament Championship and reach the WCWS for the first time since 1994.  In 2024, Lopez collected 22 more wins, making her the first Utah hurler in over a decade to compile back-to-back seasons with over 20 wins. Her win total and 225 strikeouts put her in the top 20 nationally and helped her garner first-team all-Pac-12 and all-Region status. The Utes went 35-22 in 2024 and advanced to the NCAA Regional Final.  Parker joined the Utah staff after spending the previous season coaching at Tulsa. In her one year with the Golden Hurricane (2021), three Tulsa pitchers finished the season with winning records and sub-3.30 ERAs. Chenise Delce led the group with an 8-6 record and was on the all-conference first team and NFCA all-region second team.  Prior to her one-year stint at Tulsa, Parker spent the 2020 season at Oklahoma as a volunteer assistant. The Sooners were 20-4 before the season was cut short due to the pandemic. She began her coaching career in 2019 as an assistant coach at William Jewel.  Parker played four seasons at Oklahoma and was part of the Sooners' 2016 and 2017 national championship teams. She was named the Most Outstanding Player at the 2016 WCWS and to the WCWS All-Tournament Team in 2016, 2017 and 2018. She was a finalist for both the 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year (top four) and Honda Sport Award, and claimed NFCA Freshman of the Year honors in 2015.  In addition to being a four-time All-American (2016, 2018 first team; 2015, 2017 second team) and a four-time Big XII Pitcher of the Year honoree, Parker was the 2017-18 Big XII Female Athlete of the Year and the 2015 Big XII Freshman of the Year. During her extraordinary career, she was named to the All-Big XII First Team four times. She also excelled in the classroom where she was a three-time Academic All-American (2016, 2017 first team; 2018 second team).  "Paige was an elite student-athlete," said Lombardi. "Her relentless work ethic and drive to excel helped her win on the sport's biggest stage and become a two-time national champion. She had an exceptional ability to spin the ball and compete on the mound. Having had the honor to coach her previously, I am overjoyed to now have the opportunity to work with her professionally."  The Independence, Mo., native finished her career ranked second in Oklahoma history for career win percentage (.872), wins (123), appearances (174), strikeouts (968) and shutouts (37). She also ranked fourth all-time in games started (134), innings pitched (867.1), saves (six) and strikeouts per seven innings (7.81).  She was selected as the Most Outstanding Player at the 2017 Big 12 Tournament and made the all-Tournament Team in 2017 and 2018.  After college, Parker played one season with the USSSA Pride in the National Pro Fastpitch league. She helped lead the Pride to the 2018 NPF Cowles Cup Championship.  Parker graduated from Oklahoma in 2018 with a Bachelor's degree in arts and sciences with distinction with an emphasis in coach and leadership.