The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Soccer Family Mourns Loss of Stu Parry
August 17 | Men's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio – Legendary University of Akron men's soccer coach Stu Parry passed away peacefully on Friday his family announced.
The first head coach in Akron men's program history, Parry began a decorated career guiding the Zips in 1955 and led the squad for 15 seasons en route to posting an enviable 118-43-4 record.
A transfer from Oberlin College he started a soccer club at Akron in 1954. A year later, through his insistence, enthusiasm, and keen interest, soccer became the 11th intercollegiate sport on campus.
In those 15 years, Parry directed the Zips to nine Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association Championships and developed 10 All-America soccer players, including Ed Bender, Fritz Kungl, Pete Milch, Joe Queiroga, Ford Brummer, Jim Malcolm and Eugene Alfred, and numerous All-Ohio and All-Midwest players.
During his 15 seasons at the helm, Akron consistently played the top teams in the country as well as those in Ohio.
In 1961, the Zips were invited to participate in their first NCAA post-season game. On five more occasions, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, and 1968, Akron earned NCAA invitations. In 1966 and 1968, Parry's fellow coaches honored him for his many years of devotion to and promotion of soccer by voting him the Ohio Soccer Coach of the Year.
Long active in the National Soccer Coaches Association, Parry served as the organizations president in 1968 and was a member of the rules committee for six years.
He was inducted into the Akron Athletics Hall of Fame in the inaugural class in 1975. The Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association honored Parry as a member of its inaugural class in 2024.
He is survived by his four children Bill (Caroline), Heather Crampton (Tom), David (Maureen) and Kathryn (Bryan Shellenberger), 12 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren with more on the way. He was proceeded in death by wis wife Nancy.
The first head coach in Akron men's program history, Parry began a decorated career guiding the Zips in 1955 and led the squad for 15 seasons en route to posting an enviable 118-43-4 record.
A transfer from Oberlin College he started a soccer club at Akron in 1954. A year later, through his insistence, enthusiasm, and keen interest, soccer became the 11th intercollegiate sport on campus.
In those 15 years, Parry directed the Zips to nine Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association Championships and developed 10 All-America soccer players, including Ed Bender, Fritz Kungl, Pete Milch, Joe Queiroga, Ford Brummer, Jim Malcolm and Eugene Alfred, and numerous All-Ohio and All-Midwest players.
During his 15 seasons at the helm, Akron consistently played the top teams in the country as well as those in Ohio.
In 1961, the Zips were invited to participate in their first NCAA post-season game. On five more occasions, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, and 1968, Akron earned NCAA invitations. In 1966 and 1968, Parry's fellow coaches honored him for his many years of devotion to and promotion of soccer by voting him the Ohio Soccer Coach of the Year.
Long active in the National Soccer Coaches Association, Parry served as the organizations president in 1968 and was a member of the rules committee for six years.
He was inducted into the Akron Athletics Hall of Fame in the inaugural class in 1975. The Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association honored Parry as a member of its inaugural class in 2024.
He is survived by his four children Bill (Caroline), Heather Crampton (Tom), David (Maureen) and Kathryn (Bryan Shellenberger), 12 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren with more on the way. He was proceeded in death by wis wife Nancy.
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