Gerad Parker
{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1981)}}
{{distinguish|Gerald Parker|Gerard Parker}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Gerad Parker
| image = Gerad_parker.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| current_title = Head coach
| current_team = Troy
| current_conference = Sun Belt
| current_record = 4–8
| contract =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|1|4}}{{cite web |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/pur/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/release/release_20161017aaa.pdf |title=Purdue at Nebraska Pre-game notes |date=October 18, 2016 |publisher=Purdue University |work=www.PurdueSports.com |accessdate=October 18, 2016}}{{dead link|date=January 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
| birth_place = Huntington, West Virginia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater =
| player_years1 = 2000–2004
| player_team1 = Kentucky
| player_positions = Wide receiver
| coach_years1 = 2005–2006
| coach_team1 = Raceland-Worthington HS (KY) (WR/DB)
| coach_years2 = 2007
| coach_years3 = 2008–2010
| coach_team3 = UT Martin (PGC/RC)
| coach_years4 = 2011–2012
| coach_team4 = Marshall (WR)
| coach_years5 = 2013–2014
| coach_team5 = Purdue (TE/RC)
| coach_years6 = 2015–2016
| coach_team6 = Purdue (WR/RC)
| coach_years7 = 2016
| coach_team7 = Purdue (interim HC)
| coach_years8 = 2017
| coach_team8 = Duke (OA)
| coach_years9 = 2018
| coach_team9 = Duke (WR)
| coach_years10 = 2019
| coach_team10 = Penn State (WR)
| coach_years11 = 2020–2021
| coach_team11 = West Virginia (OC/WR)
| coach_years12 = 2022
| coach_team12 = Notre Dame (TE)
| coach_years13 = 2023
| coach_team13 = Notre Dame (OC/TE)
| coach_years14 = 2024–present
| coach_team14 = Troy
| overall_record = 4–14
| bowl_record =
| tournament_record =
| championships =
| awards =
| coaching_records =
}}
Gerad Michael Parker (born January 4, 1981) is an American college football coach and former player. He is the head football coach for Troy University, a position he has held since 2024. He was previously the offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at the University of Notre Dame and the offensive coordinator at West Virginia University. Parker played as a wide receiver at the University of Kentucky from 2000 to 2004 for head coaches Hal Mumme, Guy Morriss, and Rich Brooks. He served as the interim head coach at Purdue University for six games in 2016.
Early life
Gerad, a native of Louisa, Kentucky, was born the son of Rick and Laura Parker.{{cite web |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/kty/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2003springguide.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019143004/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/kty/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2003springguide.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 19, 2016 |title=2003 Kentucky football media guide |publisher=University of Kentucky |work=www.cstv.com |accessdate=October 18, 2016}} Parker graduated from Lawrence County High School, where he was a member of the basketball team, track and field team and the football team as a record-setting wide receiver.{{cite web |url=http://www.kentucky.com/sports/high-school/prep-football/article44078316.html |title=Lawrence County: Tiny county growing a football coaching tree |author=Mark Story |date=February 5, 2011 |publisher=Lexington Herald Leader |work=www.kentucky.com |accessdate=October 18, 2016}} As a freshman and sophomore, Parker teamed up with Jason Michael to form one of the best passing attacks in the state of Kentucky. A 2000 graduate, Parker was Kentucky's all-time leader with 4,814 career receiving yards in high school.{{cite web |url=http://www.ukathletics.com/news/genrel_060107aab_html |title=Coach Bio : Gerad Parker :: Football |publisher=University of Kentucky |work=www.ukathletics.com |accessdate=October 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018211247/http://www.ukathletics.com/news/genrel_060107aab_html |archive-date=October 18, 2016 |url-status=dead }} His 65 receptions, 1,504 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior made him a finalist for the 1999 Kentucky Mr. Football Award, losing out to eventual teammate Travis Atwell. Parker ran the 400-meter dash, 400-meter relay and 1,600-meter relay for the track and field team.
College career
In January 2000, Parker accepted a scholarship to the University of Kentucky to continue his football career.{{cite web |url=http://a.espncdn.com/recruiting/s/2000/0126/315007.html |title=Battle for pledges still being waged |author=Bill Hodge |date=January 27, 2000 |publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures |work=www.espncdn.com |accessdate=October 18, 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ukathletics.com/news/sports_m-footbl_spec-rel_020200aab_html |title=Kentucky Football Welcomes 21 Newcomers To Its 2000 Squad |date=February 2, 2000 |publisher=University of Kentucky |work=www.ukathletics.com |accessdate=October 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019142318/http://www.ukathletics.com/news/sports_m-footbl_spec-rel_020200aab_html |archive-date=October 19, 2016 |url-status=dead }} He chose Kentucky over offers from Marshall and Western Kentucky. During Parker’s career at Kentucky, he went through three head coaches, two broken collar bones and a leg injury.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=266&dat=20041111&id=ONkrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GQUGAAAAIBAJ&pg=956,3764112&hl=en |title=UK's Parker nears end of star-crossed career |author=Murray Evans |date=November 11, 2004 |newspaper=Kentucky New Era |accessdate=January 16, 2017}}
=Statistics=
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" | ||||
| ! colspan="10" style="background:gray; border:2px solid silver; color:white;"|{{center|NCAA Collegiate Career statistics}} | ||||
| ! colspan="10" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Kentucky Wildcats|border=2}}" |{{center|Kentucky Wildcats}} | ||||
| rowspan=2|Season
! colspan=5|Receiving | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec | Yards | Avg | Yds/G | TD |
| 2000
| colspan=14 style="text-align:center;" | Redshirt | ||||
| 2001
| 0 | 0 | -- | -- | 0 |
| 2002
| 0 | 0 | -- | -- | 0 |
| 2003
| 0 | 0 | -- | -- | 0 |
| 2004
| 15 | 168 | 11.2 | 18.6 | 0 |
| NCAA Career Totals
| 15 || 168 || 11.2 || 18.6 || 0 |
Coaching career
=Early coaching career=
Parker coached wide receivers and defensive backs at Raceland-Worthington High School from 2005–2006. In 2007 Parker took a graduate assistant job at Kentucky,{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyindependent.com/sports/local_sports/parker-takes-job-at-kentucky/article_39278023-1e24-513f-b211-7e57bce7368d.html |title=Parker takes job at Kentucky |author=Rick Greene |date=January 12, 2007 |publisher=The Daily Independent |work=www.dailyindependent.com |accessdate=October 18, 2016}} where he worked with wide receivers and the offensive scout team. The following year Parker was hired by UT Martin, where he was the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. In 2011, Parker became the wide receivers coach at Marshall.{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyindependent.com/sports/local_sports/mark-maynard-gerad-parker-on-hair-rising-flight/article_2a67bdc8-ed08-5f34-919d-bd59d159c244.html |title=MARK MAYNARD: Gerad Parker on hair-rising flight |author=Mark Maynard |date=March 12, 2011 |publisher=The Daily Independent |work=www.dailyindependent.com |accessdate=October 18, 2016}}
=Purdue=
On February 11, 2013, Parker was hired by Darrell Hazell as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Purdue University.{{cite web |url=http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/marshall_sports/herd-wr-coach-parker-heading-to-purdue/article_53203fdf-cf5c-537f-9497-533f92a3fb64.html |title=Herd WR coach Parker heading to Purdue |author=Grant Taylor |date=February 10, 2013 |publisher=The Herald-Dispatch |work=www.herald-dispatch.com |accessdate=October 18, 2016}} In 2015, Parker took over as the wide receivers coach and maintained his role as the recruiting coordinator.{{cite web |title=Terry Malone Added to Football Coaching Staff |url=http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/022215aab.html |website=purduesports.com |accessdate=January 13, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513130009/http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/022215aab.html |archivedate=May 13, 2015 |date=February 22, 2015}}
Parker mentored standout receiver DeAngelo Yancey during his time at Purdue. Yancey earned second team All-Big Ten honors after recording a career-high 49 receptions for 951 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2016,{{cite web |url=http://www.jconline.com/story/sports/college/purdue/football/2016/11/30/purdues-deangelo-yancey-earns-big-ten-honor/94693848/ |title=Purdue's DeAngelo Yancey earns Big Ten honor |author=Nathan Baird |date=November 30, 2016 |publisher=Lafayette Journal & Courier |work=www.jconline.com |accessdate=June 27, 2017}} and wrapped up his four-year collegiate career ranking among the top receivers in Purdue history, finishing with 141 career receptions for 2,344 yards and 20 TDs.{{cite web |last1=Dienhart |first1=Tom |title=The Replacements: Top 5 Purdue players to replace |url=http://btn.com/2017/01/25/the-replacements-top-5-purdue-players-to-replace/ |website=btn.com |accessdate=January 13, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202204619/http://btn.com/2017/01/25/the-replacements-top-5-purdue-players-to-replace/ |archivedate=February 2, 2017 |date=January 25, 2017}}
After a loss to Iowa on October 16, 2016, Purdue fired head coach Darrell Hazell and named Parker the interim head coach for the final six weeks of the season.{{cite web |url=http://www.jconline.com/story/sports/college/purdue/football/2016/10/16/purdues-gerad-parker-faces-interim-challenges/92206320/ |title=Purdue's Gerad Parker faces interim challenges |author=Nathan Baird |date=October 16, 2016 |publisher=Lafayette Journal & Courier |work=www.jconline.com |accessdate=October 17, 2016}}
=Cincinnati and East Carolina=
On January 17, 2017, Parker was named the running backs coach at the University of Cincinnati.{{cite web |url=http://www.jconline.com/story/sports/college/purdue/football/2017/01/17/report-purdues-gerad-parker-cincinnati/96676250/ |title=Purdue's Gerad parker to Cincinnati |author=Nathan Baird |date=January 17, 2017 |publisher=Lafayette Journal and Courier |work=www.jconline.com |accessdate=January 18, 2017}} Parker resigned from Cincinnati the week of February 13, 2017, to become the wide receivers coach at East Carolina University.{{cite web|last1=Igoe|first1=Stephen|title=Potential Pirate coaching football hire hits major snag|url=https://247sports.com/college/east-carolina/article/east-carolinas-potential-hire-of-gerad-parker-hits-major-snag-after-arrest-ovi-51419687/|website=HoistTheColors.net|publisher=247Sports.com|access-date=February 22, 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Groeschen|first1=Tom|title=Ex-UC football assistant charged with OVI|url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/university-of-cincinnati/2017/02/21/ex-uc-football-assistant-charged-ovi/98229428/|newspaper=Cincinnati Enquirer|accessdate=February 22, 2017}} On February 22, 2017, Parker was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. Because of the arrest, the East Carolina rescinded their offer.{{cite web |url=http://kentuckysportsradio.com/football-2/after-arrest-former-wildcat-gerad-parker-loses-coaching-job/ |title=After Arrest, Former Wildcat Gerad Parker Loses Coaching Job |author=Nick Roush |date=February 22, 2017 |publisher=Kentucky Sports Radio |work=www.kentuckysportsradio.com |accessdate=March 3, 2017}}
=Duke=
On June 1, 2017, Parker was hired by David Cutcliffe and the Duke Blue Devils as a football operations assistant.{{cite web |url=http://www.jconline.com/story/sports/blogs/mike-carmin/2017/06/02/former-purdue-interim-coach-gerad-parker-hired-duke/364308001/ |title=Former Purdue interim coach Gerad Parker hired at Duke |author=Mike Carmin |date=June 1, 2017 |publisher=Lafayette Journal & Courier |work=www.jconline.com |accessdate=June 5, 2017}} In 2018, Parker transitioned into an assistant coaching role to mentor Duke’s wide receivers.{{cite web |title=Cutcliffe Announces Staff Changes |url=http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=211691532 |website=goduke.com |publisher=Duke Sports Information |accessdate=January 13, 2019 |date=January 5, 2018}} During his one season coaching the Duke wide receivers, the unit combined for 2,252 yards, accounting for 70.4 percent of the Blue Devils’ passing production.{{cite web |last1=Levarse |first1=Derek |title=Penn State hires Duke's Gerad Parker as new wide receivers coach |url=https://www.timesleader.com/sports/729901/penn-state-hires-dukes-gerad-parker-as-new-wide-receivers-coach |website=timesleader.com |publisher=Times Leader |accessdate=January 13, 2019 |date=January 10, 2019}}
=Penn State=
On January 10, 2019, Parker was named the wide receivers coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions, replacing David Corley.
=West Virginia=
Before the 2020 season, Parker was hired as the offensive coordinator at West Virginia.{{Cite web|url=https://wvmetronews.com/2020/01/10/penn-state-gerad-parker-to-join-west-virginia-as-offensive-coordinator/|first=Alex|last=Hickey|title=Penn State's Gerad Parker to join West Virginia as offensive coordinator|date=January 10, 2020 }}
=Notre Dame=
After being demoted following West Virginia's hiring of Graham Harrell as offensive coordinator,{{cite news |last1=Montoro |first1=Mike |title=Football Announces Graham Harrell as Offensive Coordinator |url=https://wvusports.com/news/2022/1/10/football-announces-graham-harrell-as-offensive-coordinator.aspx |access-date=February 2, 2022 |work=wvusports.com |publisher=West Virginia University SID |date=January 10, 2022}} Parker joined the Notre Dame staff as tight ends coach for the 2022 season.{{cite news |last1=Loy |first1=Tom |title=BREAKING: WVU's Gerad Parker Expected to Become Tight Ends Coach at Notre Dame |url=https://247sports.com/college/west-virginia/Article/Gerad-Parker-Notre-Dame-Tight-Ends-Coach-West-Virginia-Marcus-Freeman-Fighting-Irish-182066250/ |access-date=February 2, 2022 |work=247sports.com |publisher=247Sports |date=February 2, 2022}} He was named offensive coordinator for the 2023 season.{{Cite magazine |last=Stires |first=Sean |date=April 17, 2023 |title=Notre Dame Is In No Hurry To Name A Starting Quarterback |magazine=Sports Illustrated |url=https://www.si.com/college/notredame/football/notre-dame-fighting-irish-in-no-hurry-to-name-a-starting-quarterback-stires |access-date=May 16, 2023}}
=Troy=
On December 18, 2023, Parker was named the head coach at Troy.{{cite web | title=Troy Names Gerad Parker Head Football Coach | website=Troy University Athletics | date=2023-12-18 | url=https://troytrojans.com/news/2023/12/18/troy-names-gerad-parker-head-football-coach | access-date=2024-09-26}}
Head coaching record
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Purdue Boilermakers
| conf = Big Ten Conference
| startyear = 2016
| endyear = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2016
| name = Purdue
| overall = 0–6
| conference = 0–6
| confstanding = 7th (West)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Purdue
| overall = 0–6
| confrecord = 0–6
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Troy Trojans
| conf = Sun Belt Conference
| startyear = 2024
| endyear =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2024
| name = Troy
| overall = 4–8
| conference = 3–5
| confstanding = T–5th (West)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Troy
| overall = 4–8
| confrecord = 3–5
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 4–14
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| polltype =
| legend = no
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://troytrojans.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/gerad-parker/1847 Troy profile]
- [https://fightingirish.com/coach/gerad-parker/ Notre Dame profile]
- [https://purduesports.com/staff-directory/gerad-parker/938 Purdue profile]
- [https://gopsusports.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/gerad-parker/1029 Penn State profile]
{{Purdue Boilermakers football coach navbox}}
{{Troy Trojans football coach navbox}}
{{Sun Belt Conference football coach navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parker, Gerad}}
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Duke Blue Devils football coaches
Category:Kentucky Wildcats football coaches
Category:Kentucky Wildcats football players
Category:Marshall Thundering Herd football coaches
Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football coaches
Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football coaches
Category:Purdue Boilermakers football coaches
Category:Troy Trojans football coaches
Category:UT Martin Skyhawks football coaches
Category:West Virginia Mountaineers football coaches
Category:High school football coaches in Kentucky
Category:People from Louisa, Kentucky
Category:Sportspeople from Huntington, West Virginia