St. John’s Alumnus and Pro Soccer Star Keeps Strong Connection to Alma Mater
Timothy Parker, M.B.A. ’15TCB is a standout center back with the New York Red Bulls soccer club, but when he enrolled at St. John’s University, it was not with aspirations for professional play. “I was drawn to the business school and the Manhattan alumni connections,” he recalled. “I planned to major in business, play soccer, and get a job in the city afterwards. It didn’t work out that way, but luckily for me, I got to play soccer instead!”
We had such good camaraderie on that soccer team and in that locker room, and it speaks volumes that we’re all still friends today—10 years later.
Instantly a leader on the St. John’s Men’s Soccer squad, Mr. Parker played every season for the Red Storm before entering the Major League Soccer (MLS) draft in 2015. Since then, he has played for five MLS teams, including the Vancouver Whitecaps, the Saint Louis City SC,New England Revolution,Houston Dynamos, and two stints with the New York Red Bulls. Mr. Parker recently received MLS All-Star honors, was a member of the US Men’s National Team, and was named to the Best XI in 2023.
A native of Hicksville, NY, Mr. Parker was drawn to St. John’s strong soccer program under the direction of Head Coach David Masur ’03Ed.D.and his distinguished reputation of developing defenders. He credits Coaches John A. Diffley, Ed.D. and Jeff Matteo, both former professional soccer players, as constant sources of positivity and support both on and off the field.
Running summer soccer camps and cheering on other student-athletes were memorable parts of his college experience. “The athletic community was very close,” he remembered, “and we would brush shoulders with basketball players, women’s soccer, basketball, and baseball. Everyone was in that study hall area of Carnesecca Arena,and we had the best off-season activity ever—basketball games at Madison Square Garden!”
Unique bonds with teammates forged lifelong memories and friendships. “We had such good camaraderie on that soccer team and in that locker room, and it speaks volumes that we’re all still friends today—10 years later,” he said.
Mr. Parker was both an ambassador for St. John’s while on campus and remains one as an alumnus. “I was a host for a lot of recruitment trips and would show the new recruits all the best of what St. John’s had to offer. You can be in New York City in 45 minutes on the train, but you also have many opportunities right here.”
His connections with fellow Johnnies extended even into the world of professional soccer. As he recalled, “Connor Lade ’12CPS was my senior captain when I was a first-year student, and I got to play with him at Red Bull. That was a full-circle moment.”
Mr. Parker succeeded in his original plan to study finance at The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, where academic adviser Ray Howell was key in accelerating his graduation in advance of the MLS draft. He appreciated seeing his deans on match days, where they were season ticket holders. Mr. Parker’s interest in business led him to the Student-Managed Investment Fund, a finance-focused course that provided hands-on experience, and he recently earned his M.B.A. through a program affiliated with the MLS Players Association.
For Mr. Parker, St. John’s was more than a stepping stone—it was a foundation for lifelong friendships, personal growth, and professional success. He continues to pay it forward in supporting his alma mater.
“Some people don’t take a lot of pride in where they graduated from,” he noted, “But I do. St. John’s shaped me and gave me such a platform. I owe a lot to that place. I want to be a resource to the soccer guys. I want to be at basketball games supporting the athletic program.”
Living in Scotch Plains, NJ, with his wife and family, Mr. Parker once again sees his favorite sport through the eyes of a child. “Having my son at games changes the way I think about sports, soccer, and everything. Now it all means a little bit more.”
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