For Sue Parks, the track at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) was never just a workplace; it was the backdrop of her life. Her journey began at age 11, running around the Bowen Fieldhouse track on weekends while her father, the legendary Hall of Fame coach Bob Parks, worked. This early exposure to the sport, facilitated by her father lining her up with age-group track clubs, ignited a lifelong passion that would eventually lead her back to Ypsilanti to cement her own Hall of Fame legacy.
Though she was the daughter of a coaching icon, Parks’ path to leadership was not immediate. She initially chose EMU as a student-athlete after a brief stint at Michigan State, finding that the "homebody" nature of the university and her family history made it the "right fit". After her competitive days ended, she began her coaching career as an assistant, never originally intending to become a head coach. However, after a successful 12-year tenure at Ball State University, where she built the Cardinals into a conference power and won multiple championships, the opportunity to return to her alma mater arose.
Returning to EMU was a decision rooted in both professional challenge and personal timing. Parks noted that while it is often easier to stay at the top of an established program, the desire to be near her parents and see what she could accomplish at her alma mater drew her back to Ypsilanti. The transition was not without its hurdles. Parks recalled a "pretty tough" first year where she questioned her ability to lead the program, only to be encouraged by her father’s unwavering belief that if she couldn’t do it, no one could. Motivated by that confidence, Parks led a "miraculous" turnaround, taking the women’s program from last place to first in just five years.
One of the most significant chapters of her legacy began when EMU decided to combine the men’s and women’s track programs. Parks stepped into the role of Director, overseeing both, a position her father had once held. She found deep satisfaction in merging the programs, watching the athletes support one another and continuing the university's "Olympic tradition". Under her guidance, EMU continued to produce world-class talent, including Victoria Voronko, and Donald Scott. Parks attributed this success to the supportive environment at Eastern, where athletes who may not have been national champions in high school could thrive through hard work and coachability.
Beyond the trophies, Parks oversaw a physical revitalization of the program’s home. She took great pride in the renovation of Bowen Fieldhouse and the establishment of a new outdoor track facility, moving the program away from the old track inside the football stadium. These resources, supported by the university administration, provided the foundation for the 26 total championships she earned across her 32 years in the conference.
Her retirement is not merely an exit but a transition of the Parks family legacy. She currently serves as the trustee for a scholarship endowment established by her parents, which is being rebranded as the Parks Family Scholarship Fund to continue supporting EMU’s hardworking student-athletes. Parks emphasized that these athletes are "good people" who are appreciative of the resources provided to them, making the fund a vital part of the program's future.
As she hangs up her "track cleats" after 20 years at Eastern, Parks reflects on the journey with a sense of fulfillment. She cited the changing landscape of the NCAA and a desire to spend more time with her family as the primary reasons for her departure. Already a member of the E-Club Hall of Fame as a student-athlete, her transition to retirement is marked by the gratitude of the EMU community for her "honorable" service. Looking back at her three decades in the sport, Parks concluded that she "couldn't have asked for any more" from her experience at Eastern Michigan. Her "bell lap" marks the end of a historic era, leaving the program in a position of strength for the next generation of Eagles.
