Harry Parker, perhaps the most recognized figure in the sport of rowing, begins his 39th season as the head coach of Harvard heavyweight crew. Entering the spring, his dual regatta record is an amazing 142-34 (.807), and his record vs. all dual opponents is an even more astounding 234-38-1 (.859). Highlights of his tenure include 15 undefeated regular seasons (including 1998), 17 EARC Sprints varsity titles, and six Cincinnati Regatta victories (an event that for several years was regarded as the sport's collegiate national championship). His 1998 crew completed its season by winning the prestigious Ladies Challenge Plate at the Henley Royal Regatta, the latest in a long line of Henley victories. Parker has also guided the Crimson to an outstanding 32-6 record in its fabled series with Yale, which includes 14 victories in the past 16 seasons.

Parker's crews have won official national championships in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1992, and several unofficial crowns prior to that. His 1985 crew scored what would be considered a Harvard grand-slam: a win at the Sprints, a triumph over Yale, a victory at Cincinnati, and a win in the Grand Challenge Cup at the Royal Henley Regatta, the school's first since 1959. He has led Harvard to seven San Diego Crew Classic titles, and two championships each at the Potomac Regatta and Redwood Shores Regatta. Under Parker, Harvard crews have also competed on a world stage; the Crimson won the 1967 Pan American Games and the 1968 U.S. Olympic trials before taking sixth in the Games at Mexico City. Additionally, Parker-coached Harvard oarsmen have rowed at nearly every Olympic Games over the past four decades.

A coach of U.S. Olympic Rowing regularly since 1964, Parker himself was an Olympian in 1960. He was the U.S. single scull champion in 1959 and 1960, the Pan Am Games titleist in 1959, and placed fifth in that event in the 1960 Games. Among the more recent Olympic medalists Parker has coached are 1984 silver medalist Andy Sudduth '85, who rowed in the eight at Los Angeles and Jack Rusher '89, the lone undergraduate on the 1988 U.S. Olympic eight that won a bronze medal at Seoul. Richard Kennelly '87 won a silver medal at the '88 Games.

In 1996, Boston magazine published an article on Harry. Harvard Magazine ran a feature piece as well.

In three years at Harvard, Bill has won two 1st Freshmen titles, as well as two 2nd Freshmen titles, at the Eastern Sprints. Last year, he guided the 1st Freshmen to wins at the Eastern Sprints, Harvard-Yale and the Temple Cup at Henley. Overall, Bill has compiled an 13-3-1 mark in dual regattas (20-3-1 against all crews).

Prior to coming to Harvard Bill coached and served as a guidance counselor at BB&N; from 1992-1997. He served as an intern at Harvard in 1998, before becoming the freshman coach in 1999. He was an assistant coach to the 1996 U.S. Junior Development Camp. In 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001 he served as an assistant coach to the U.S. Junior National Team. The crews that he assisted with have won three silver medals and one bronze at the Junior World Championships.

At Henley, Bill has coached crews in competition for the Princess Elizabeth Cup(with BB&N;), the Silver Goblets, the Britania Cup, and the Temple Cup.