Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator, Gerad Parker, has taken on a new role as the head coach at Troy, the university officially announced on Monday.
Parker, a seasoned coach with a diverse background, previously served as Purdue’s interim head coach and held coaching positions at prominent institutions like Penn State, West Virginia, and Duke. His career path aligns with that of Troy’s recent successful coaches, Neal Brown and Jon Sumrall. Parker played alongside both of them at Kentucky and worked as an assistant under Brown at West Virginia.
He steps into the shoes of Jon Sumrall, who led Troy to consecutive Sun Belt titles but recently departed for Tulane. Sumrall’s impressive record at Troy stood at 23-4 over two seasons.
Welcome to the Troy Family, @GeradParker1!
📰 – https://t.co/bA6eCjL6HK#OneTROY ⚔️🏈 pic.twitter.com/ttBGpQWCe1
— Troy Trojans Football 8x⚔️ (@TroyTrojansFB) December 18, 2023
Parker is known for his high energy and brings a wealth of experience to the role. Sources indicate that Troy officials were particularly drawn to his background as an offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator. Athletic Director Brent Jones, who previously hired Sumrall, has now made his second football hire with Parker.
Parker’s move to Troy comes from one of the highest-profile coordinator positions in college football. Notre Dame recently secured Riley Leonard, a former standout quarterback at Duke, through the NCAA transfer portal, potentially appealing to a top-tier coordinator. Notably, this marks the third offensive coordinator change in as many years under Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.
Troy has a history of success in the Sun Belt conference, boasting eight titles since 2006. The university’s significant financial investment in its football program has allowed them to attract a coordinator from a major conference institution.
Troy’s commitment to athletics and football investment has long been emphasized by Chancellor Jack Hawkins, recognizing the importance of sports success in elevating the university’s profile.
Troy is gearing up to face Duke in the Birmingham Bowl this Saturday.