Park University over the last 150 years has made it its mission to transform lives through accessible, student-centered, quality higher education. In celebration of Park's 150th Year Anniversary, Park Athletics is excited to begin this series to highlight the history, accomplishment, and legacy of Park's athletic programs. As we await the special times ahead for our institution, may we also look back fondly at how Park got to this point in it's voyage in athletics.

As we get deeper into 2025, we look forward to telling the stories of each program's history at Park. 

We have the privilege to kick-off the 150th tribute with women's basketball. Enjoy and if you have an iconic moment within this timeline you can share your experience with Pirate Nation though the Iconic Moments Form.

1978-1979

• Women's Basketball made its first appearance at Park with eight players and head coach Debbie Beydler. 

1980-81

• The program won its first game in program history, under second year head coach Judy Milewski.

1982-83

• At the time, Park earned its most wins in a season at 5-16. Another coaching change was evident and the Pirates were led by second year head coach Larry Hurshman.

1984-85

• The Pirates had the program's first winning season at 15-10 and between the 1984 and 1985 seasons, Bud Peterson took over as head coach for the 15 win season.

1985-86

• Impressively, Park women's basketball celebrated the program's first-ever 2,000 point scorer in Nancy Dorn. Dorn at one point was fifth in NAIA History in scoring. 

• The Pirates went 12-12 on the season with a first year head coach, Karl Butler

1989-1990

• There is record of one of the first individual honor seized by a Pirate, as Danette Parr was named First-Team All-District 16 at the season's end.

• The Pirates with 10 players this year were brought down to a 7-20 overall record.

1990-91

• Park reached .500 again at 14-14 under Vaughn with nine players. 

• This is the first mention of the team qualifying for the District 16 playoffs.

• Park ranked No. 7 nationally in rebounding.

1993-94

• The 1993-94 academic year was Park' first as a member of the American Midwest Conference. Park left the league in 2000 and returned to its membership status from 2009-10 through 2019-20.

• CiCi Harris took on the role of head coach for the first season in the AMC, leading Park to a conference tournament appearance on a 7-19 record.

1994-95

• Elaine Goya took a roster of 12 player to a 7-20 record with a 6-8 AMC record in her first season as head coach. 

• Connie Espinoza, Heather Weers, and Twania White were all-conference players in the AMC.

• White was ranked 11th in the NAIA in rebounding.

1997-98

• Jade Ikeda in her senior season earned her 12th all-conference honor. Ikeda was a multi-sport athlete in women's volleyball, women's basketball, and softball from 1994-95 through 1997-98. 

• Ikeda emerges as the first Wall of Honor recipient by a women's basketball player at Park, inducted in 2015

• She was a 1,000 point scorer in 1997 and led Park in points per game her senior season in 1998 with 16.1 points per game.

• In 1997-98, there were five All-Conference Academic Selections: Ikeda, Courtney Husbands, Roshanda Kayett, Heather Weers, and Rachel Knittel

• Joe C. Meriweather in his first season is named the AMC Coach of the Year

1998-99

• Meriweather would go on to coach 13 seasons at Park. He is the second most winningest coach at Park with 128 victories from 1997-2010.

2001-2002

• Park had a 14-17 record and advanced to the NAIA Women's Independent Div. I Championship, possibly the program's first conference championship appearance.

• Muneerah Williams was honored with All-Region First Team, while Le'Nae Gilmore received a second team accolade. 

2002-2003

• Meriweather leads Park to a program record of 22 wins in a season, ending at 22-3. The record still stands to this day.

• Randi Meissner was selected as an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American on an average of 14.9 points per game, while Priscilla Torto was an NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete and MCAC All-Conference Scholar-Athlete.

2005-2006

• Coach Meriweather led the 2006 squad to its first-ever NAIA Division I National Tournament appearance with a 19-12 record.

• Meriweather earns NAIA Independent Region Coach of the Year award.

2006-2007

• Despite a 3-24 record, the Pirates pulled the upset over Allen University in the NAIA Independent Region Basketball Tournament, 74-42 and reached the semifinal game.

2007-2008

• Park scored 109 points against Allen University on Feb. 8th, 2008.

• Park fought their way into the the Independent Region Championship with a 70-44 win over Voorhees, but Brescia bested Park in the finale 66-62 to end the season 15-15. Brianne Edwards was named to the All-Independent Tournament team for her 21-point effort in the title game. 

2010-2011

• Norman Kenneth Cooper Jr. takes over the women's basketball program and had a 13 win turnaround from 2010's 5-25 to 2011's 18-11 record. 

• Vivian Holcomb earned a spot on the 2010-11 AMC First Team All-Conference list and was the only freshman in the conference to earn First Team that season.

• The Pirates defeated Williams Baptist 72-53 to grab its first post-season win in five years. Holcomb had her season-high of 23 points and got the double-double on 16 rebounds. 

2011-12

• The 2011-12 campaign opened with one of the program's best starts posting a 10-1 record at the holiday break before advancing to the semifinals of the AMC Tournament for the second consecutive year.

2012-13

• Brianna Beridon finished the year as the AMC's scoring champion and a First-Team All-Conference honoree averaging nearly 18 points per game for Coach Cooper.

2013-14

• Park got back to above .500 on the season at 17-14 and Channell Mackey became Park's third women's basketball player to receive NAIA All-American Honorable Mention status.

2013-14

• Mackey repeats as NAIA All-American and Park finished 15-13 in the AMC Quarterfinal.

2020-21

• A new era for Park Athletics begins in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

• Cautia Wadood earns Park's first-ever women's basketball Heart of America Athletic Conference Player of the Week award. She helped lead the Pirates to a season opening win over Ottawa on Halloween, 77-66. She put up 22 points, and added seven rebounds and three assists in the win over the Braves.

2021-22

• Cooper earned his 129th win to become the program's all-time wins leader.

2023-24

• 11 wins on the season was highlighted by two collegiate career 1,000 point scorers, Taylor Shelby and Angel Wiggins. 

• The Pirates also earned a ranked win against No. 20 MidAmerica Nazarene, 50-41. 

• Two Pirates were Heart All-Conference, Emma Perry on Second Team and Makayla Artis earns honorable mention distinction.

• As the year wrapped up, Coach Cooper with his 147th career win

What's Upcoming?

We can't wait for you to join us for more exciting opportunities to celebrate Park's 150 year anniversary. See what else is on the horizon:
Feb. 20th - Arrr & Arrr - Register
Then and Now Series - More Details to Come
Sept. 25th-27th - 150th Anniversary Homecoming