NEW ORLEANS — From his hometown of Louisa, Kentucky to Troy, Alabama, Gerad Parker hasn’t ever backed down from a challenge.
The Trojans’ first-year coach took over for Jon Sumrall, who left for the same position at Tulane after leading Troy to back-to-back Sun Belt Conference football championships in 2022 and 2023.
Parker isn’t intimidated by the success of his predecessor.
“I know the expectations, you can’t ignore them, and it’s part of the reason I took the job, but it’s not added pressure,†Parker said. “If you make it so much about winning [the league], you forget some of the things it takes to do that. To make it smaller, you focus on the things you have to do daily and weekly to get this thing there.â€
Officially, it’s Parker’s second stint as a head coach. He was named the interim coach at Purdue in 2016, taking over for the final six games that season after Darrell Hazell was fired following a 3-3 start. The Boilermakers finished 3-9 that year.
This time around, Parker said it’s a completely different situation, but the experience helps.
“You don’t forget that. I won’t forget what I had to do in thinking about all of the things I’d never had to think about,†Parker said. “It afforded me that quick glimpse into what it would feel like, not totally, but somewhat. It gave me a cheat for six weeks about what the job is. Your body remembers that.â€
A college football journeyman of sorts, Parker has high-level experience in helping lead offenses all across the country. His career started as a graduate assistant at Kentucky before he climbed the ranks to become Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator before being hired as Troy’s coach.
One of those coaching stops included being a wide receivers coach at Marshall for two seasons (2011-12), where he helped wideout Tommy Shuler and quarterback Rakeem Cato to record-breaking seasons in Huntington.
Twelve years later, those individuals were included in the 2024 Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame class, and Parker was picked to lead the Trojans, who reside in the Sun Belt Conference with the Thundering Herd, albeit in separate divisions.
“Those were the days,†Parker said, “what we accomplished together, and watching Tommy in that wide receiver room as a young pup who needed some help to get there, and what Rakeem was able to do. I know we led the country in passing that year [2012]. Some really cool memories.â€
Parker was also offensive coordinator and receivers coach at West Virginia from 2020-21.
Parker is one of five new coaches in the conference and one of three new faces leading a program in the West Division, joining Major Applewhite (South Alabama) and Bryant Vincent (Louisiana-Monroe). Bob Chesney (James Madison) and Dell McGee (Georgia State) are new coaches in the East Division.
Parker has made a good first impression with at least one other coach in the West, Louisiana’s head man Michael Desormeaux, who said Parker’s personality is a great fit for the new digs.
“I don’t know him very well, hadn’t known him before, but I really like him a lot, just in the little bit of time we’ve gotten to spend together,†Desormeaux said. “I think he’s a good fit taking over for Jon, personality-wise. It’s about toughness, it’s about grit, and it seems like Troy is just that kind of place.“
When asked about potentially facing the Thundering Herd in a future conference matchup, Parker laughed and said he looked forward to the day.
They last played in 2022, with Troy winning 16-7 at home.
“I hope we meet sooner rather than later,†Parker said, “because that means we both did well, and it would be the conference championship game against each other. Until then, I’m sure it’ll happen sometime in the regular season, and it will be one to remember, whether it’s in Troy or Huntington.â€
Luke Creasy is a reporter for The Herald-Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @LukeCreasy or reach him by phone at 304-526-2800.
