Saint Louis Billikens Athletics

Rexi Parcells was named assistant coach of the Billikens’ cross country and track and field programs at the start of the 2023-24 seasons. She came to SLU after a five-year stint at McMurry University (Abilene, Texas) where she served as head men’s and women’s cross country coach, assistant track and field coach, and the department-wide assistant strength and conditioning coach.

Several Billikens have flourished under Parcells' guidance, including three cross country runners who have earned All-Rookie honors – Sophia Pelligreen (2023), Emery Mayfield (2024) and Manny Vela (2024). On the track, Mayfield earned All-Rookie honors in indoor (3,000 meters) and outdoor (10,000 meters). Vela captured the silver medal in the 10,000 meters at the 2025 A-10 Outdoor Championships. Parcells also coached Brock Waugh, who captured All-Rookie honors in the 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters during the outdoor season, and the mile during the indoor campaign.
 
While at McMurry, Parcells guided the program to unprecedented success during her tenure. In 2022, they completed the American Southwest Conference Cross Country Championship sweep, as both the men’s and women’s programs earned conference crowns. In addition, she coached the men’s and women’s conference champion that year, and her coaching staff was tabbed the league’s Coaching Staff of the Year for men's and women's cross country.
 
That successful season in 2022 came on the heels of a breakout year for the War Hawks in 2021. Parcells led the women’s cross country program to its first ASC conference crown since 2006. She and her assistant coach were named the ASC Women’s Cross Country Coaching Staff of the Year.
 
Parcells guided McMurry’s distance runners to success on the track as well. During her tenure, the War Hawks had individual conference champions in the 800 meters, 3,000-meter steeplechase, 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters and have had additional runners earn All-Conference honors.
 
An accomplished competitor in her own right, Parcells was a standout runner at Arkansas State University, helping the Red Wolves win Sun Belt Conference championships in cross country and indoor track in 2013, as well as outdoor track in 2015. During her time at Arkansas State, she set the school record in the indoor mile and outdoor 1,500 meters. Parcells was a three-time Sun Belt Conference Runner of the Week, a three-time All-Conference honoree in cross country, and a two-time all-conference honoree in track & field. In 2015, she was tabbed a USTFCCCA Cross Country All-South Central Region honoree and was named to the USTFCCCA D1 Cross Country All-Academic Team.
 
Parcells earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science from Arkansas State University and later earned a Master’s in Kinesiology from the University of Texas at Austin. Additionally, Parcells owns NSCA-Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, USATF Coaching Education Level 1, USTFCCCA Track & Field Technical Coaching, and American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED certifications.