CLARION’S “GIE PARSONS” INDUCTED INTO THIEL ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

            Clarion University Women’s Basketball coach Margaret “Gie” Parsons was honored on Sunday, February 11^th, when she was inducted into the Thiel College Athletic Hall of Fame for her accomplishments as the women’s basketball coach there from 1982-89.

The induction was held at the Howard Miller Student Center’s Lutheran Heritage Room on Thiel’s campus. Parsons was one of only three 2007 inductees into Thiel’s Athletic Hall, along with George Sterner and Todd Venis.

At Thiel College Parsons put together a very impressive 8-year record as head women’s basketball coach of 110-73, a winning percentage of 60.1%. The fact that she turned that program around from a losing record into one that won three PAC Titles (1985, 86, 88), earned an NCAA Division III Tournament bid in 1988, and named PAC “Coach of the Year” three times was an incredible accomplishment. In her final six seasons she compiled an amazing record of 97-46, a winning percentage of  67.8%. Her 1988 team was 19-4, while Thiel was 22-2 in 1985 and 18-6 in 1984, while the 1987 team finished 18-6 and ranked 19^th in Division III.

“I was very humbled and honored to be inducted into the Thiel Athletic Hall of Fame on Sunday,” said coach Parsons. “The Hall ceremonies were first class and I was certainly honored to be able to share the day with my family, friends and supporters. I loved my time at Thiel and the great successes we were able to accomplish in eight seasons. My greatest memory was in 1988 when we qualified for the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in school history. That was a very special honor for the school, program and our players.”

“We want to congratulate coach Parsons on her induction into Thiel’s Hall of Fame,” said Clarion Athletic Director Dave Katis. “She had some great accomplishments at Thiel and was certainly deserving of this honor. We are all very proud of her and want to extend all of our best wishes from Clarion University, the athletic program and the community.”

George Sterner, a 1976 Thiel grad who was inducted, was a football and baseball standout, while Todd Venis, ’91, was a football and wrestling star with the Bobcats.

CLARION NOTES: Clarion A.D. Dave Katis and Vice-President for Finance and Administration Paul Bylaska attended the induction ceremonies, along with current assistant basketball coach at Clarion Scott Creighton… Parsons came to Clarion from Thiel and has a record at Clarion of  268-228 in 18-years with the Golden Eagles … She has won 3 PSAC-West “Coach of the Year Awards (2005, 1992, 91)… From 1991-95 Clarion was 117-33 overall and 50-10 in the PSAC-West… Clarion won 5 straight PSAC-West titles, 3 PSAC crowns, 2 trips to the “Elite 8”, 2 trips to the “Sweet 16” and was ranked #2 in the nation during the 1994 season…  In her 26-year career she is 378-301.