Troy University Athletics
Football
Parker, Benjy
Benjy Parker
- Title:
- Linebackers
- Email:
- bjparker@troy.edu
- Phone:
- 3486
Benjy Parker begins his eighth season as an assistant coach at Troy and will move into the defensive secondary in 2013 to coach the Trojan safeties after seven seasons coaching the linebackers.
Under his guidance, Kanorris Davis earned a pair of All-Sun Belt honors during his time as a Trojan linebacker and went on to sign a free agent deal with the New England Patriots following the 2012 season.
In 2011, the trio of Xavier Lamb, Brannon Bryan, and Davis combined for 230 tackles. Lamb’s 88 tackles were the second-most by a Trojan in 2011, while Bryan, in his first full season as a starter recorded 82 stops. Davis was named to the 2011 Preseason Pony Express Award List after he made 60 tackles, including four tackles-for-loss, in 2010.
The 2010 linebacker corps featured Lamb and Daniel Sheffield who led the Trojans in tackles. Lamb recorded 91 total tackles, with 45 of those coming solo; while Sheffield picked up 78, with 44 solo tackles. The duo combined for 13 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, all while breaking up eight passes, recording an interception and recovering four fumbles.
Parker’s 2009 linebacker unit featured three players (Boris Lee – Chiefs, David McDowell – Rams and Bear Woods – Falcons) that attended NFL training camps in 2010. The three combined for 314 tackles and 39 tackles for loss.
In 2008, Parker was part of a defense that ranked in the top 35 in several categories, including pass defense (23rd), total defense (30th) and scoring defense (31st). They also ranked 17th in the nation in pass efficiency defense (104.03).
He also coached three All-Sun Belt Conference selections at linebacker during the 2008 season in Lee, Woods and Terence Moore. The trio combined for 310 total tackles and were three of the top four tacklers on the team. The trio also combined for 21.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, eight interceptions, nine pass break-ups and seven quarterback hurries. Both Lee and Woods return for the 2009 season, with Lee returning with a team-leading 126 total tackles and 73 solo tackles; while Woods returns with 108 total tackles and 69 solo tackles in just 10 games in 2007.
Prior to his stint at Troy, Parker served as the defensive coordinator at Northeast Mississippi Junior College for two seasons (2004 and 2005). At Northeast, Parker helped turn the Tigers into a national powerhouse. In his final season at Northeast Mississippi, the Tigers were ranked as high as number two in the nation and finished with a 7-2 overall record.
Parker is well-known in the Mississippi Junior College ranks and has proven to be beneficial in recruiting that area for the Trojans.
Prior to his two successful season at Northeast Mississippi, Parker spent five seasons as linebackers coach at Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kan. He coached four NJCAA All-Americans at Butler and helped the Grizzlies to the 2003 NJCAA National Championship.
Parker’s other coaching experience includes two seasons at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Mississippi where he helped the Bobcats to a perfect 12-0 record during the 1998 season. That year, his team also won the national championship.
Parker played at Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Miss. He earned his bachelor’s in exercise science from the University of Mississippi in 1998, and finished his master’s degree in education at William Carey College in 2000.
Parker is married to the former Emily Moore of Calhoun County, Miss., and the couple has one daughter, Mary Hasting.
PARKER FILE
Under his guidance, Kanorris Davis earned a pair of All-Sun Belt honors during his time as a Trojan linebacker and went on to sign a free agent deal with the New England Patriots following the 2012 season.
In 2011, the trio of Xavier Lamb, Brannon Bryan, and Davis combined for 230 tackles. Lamb’s 88 tackles were the second-most by a Trojan in 2011, while Bryan, in his first full season as a starter recorded 82 stops. Davis was named to the 2011 Preseason Pony Express Award List after he made 60 tackles, including four tackles-for-loss, in 2010.
The 2010 linebacker corps featured Lamb and Daniel Sheffield who led the Trojans in tackles. Lamb recorded 91 total tackles, with 45 of those coming solo; while Sheffield picked up 78, with 44 solo tackles. The duo combined for 13 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, all while breaking up eight passes, recording an interception and recovering four fumbles.
Parker’s 2009 linebacker unit featured three players (Boris Lee – Chiefs, David McDowell – Rams and Bear Woods – Falcons) that attended NFL training camps in 2010. The three combined for 314 tackles and 39 tackles for loss.
In 2008, Parker was part of a defense that ranked in the top 35 in several categories, including pass defense (23rd), total defense (30th) and scoring defense (31st). They also ranked 17th in the nation in pass efficiency defense (104.03).
He also coached three All-Sun Belt Conference selections at linebacker during the 2008 season in Lee, Woods and Terence Moore. The trio combined for 310 total tackles and were three of the top four tacklers on the team. The trio also combined for 21.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, eight interceptions, nine pass break-ups and seven quarterback hurries. Both Lee and Woods return for the 2009 season, with Lee returning with a team-leading 126 total tackles and 73 solo tackles; while Woods returns with 108 total tackles and 69 solo tackles in just 10 games in 2007.
Prior to his stint at Troy, Parker served as the defensive coordinator at Northeast Mississippi Junior College for two seasons (2004 and 2005). At Northeast, Parker helped turn the Tigers into a national powerhouse. In his final season at Northeast Mississippi, the Tigers were ranked as high as number two in the nation and finished with a 7-2 overall record.
Parker is well-known in the Mississippi Junior College ranks and has proven to be beneficial in recruiting that area for the Trojans.
Prior to his two successful season at Northeast Mississippi, Parker spent five seasons as linebackers coach at Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kan. He coached four NJCAA All-Americans at Butler and helped the Grizzlies to the 2003 NJCAA National Championship.
Parker’s other coaching experience includes two seasons at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Mississippi where he helped the Bobcats to a perfect 12-0 record during the 1998 season. That year, his team also won the national championship.
Parker played at Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Miss. He earned his bachelor’s in exercise science from the University of Mississippi in 1998, and finished his master’s degree in education at William Carey College in 2000.
Parker is married to the former Emily Moore of Calhoun County, Miss., and the couple has one daughter, Mary Hasting.
PARKER FILE
AGE: 38 (Oct. 11, 1973)
HOMETOWN: Bruce, Miss.
HIGH SCHOOL: Bruce HS (‘91)
ALMA MATER: Mississippi (‘98)
B.S. Exercise Science
MASTER’S DEGREE: William Carey (‘00)
M.S. in Education
PLAYING CAREER: Itawamba CC
(1996-97)
MARRIED: former Emily Moore
CHILDREN: Mary Hasting Parker
COACHING CAREER:
Troy 2006-present
Safeties 2013
Linebackers 2006-12
NE Miss. CC (Def. Coordinator) 2004-05
Butler County CC (Linebackers) 2000-04
ULM (Grad. Assistant) 2000
Jones County CC (Asst. Coach) 1998-99
BOWL HISTORY:
2006 New Orleans Rice W, 41-7
2008 New Orleans Southern Miss L, 27-30
2010 GMAC Central Michigan L, 41-44
2010 New Orleans Ohio W, 48-21
Gerad Parker Press Conference - Memphis Game
Monday, September 08
Troy Football Press Conference (Players) - Memphis Game
Monday, September 08
Josh Lauer Postgame Press Conference - Jackson State
Saturday, September 06
Player Postgame Press Conference (Luke Hodge, Tray Taylor) - No. 8 Clemson
Saturday, September 06
