Troy University Athletics
Staff Directory
Parker, Gerad
Gerad Parker
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- Phone:
- 3682
Follow @GeradParker1
The Parker File
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Birthday | January 4 |
| Hometown | Louisa, Kentucky |
| Education | Kentucky, 2003 (Bachelor's) Kentucky, 2005 (Master's) |
| Playing Career | Kentucky, 2000-04 |
| Wife | Kandi |
| Children | Kolbi, Gwyneth, Rosalyn, Oliver |
| Coaching History | |
|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Troy - Head Coach |
| 2023 | Notre Dame - Offensive Coordinator / Tight Ends |
| 2022 | Notre Dame - Tight Ends |
| 2020-21 | West Virginia - Offensive Coordinator / Wide Receivers |
| 2019 | Penn State - Wide Receivers / Passing Game Coordinator |
| 2018 | Duke - Wide Receivers |
| 2017 | Duke - Offensive Operations Assistant |
| 2016 | Purdue - Interim Head Coach |
| 2015-16 | Purdue - Wide Receivers |
| 2006-07 | Purdue - Tight Ends |
| 2011-12 | Marshall - Wide Receivers |
| 2010 | UT-Martin - Wide Receivers / Passing Game Coordinator |
| 2008-09 | UT-Martin - Running Backs |
| 2007 | Kentucky - Graduate Assistant |
| 2005-06 | Raceland (Ky.) HS - Wide Receivers / Defensive Backs |
Gerad Parker returns for his second season as Troy's head coach in 2025 following a run as one of the nation's top offensive coordinators, including the 2023 season at Notre Dame.
In his first season at Troy, the Trojans produced the first 1,000-yard rushing and receiving duo in more than a decade and just the third in program history as Damien Taylor rushed for 1,010 yards and Devonte Ross recorded 1,043 receiving yards; Troy's first since 2012.
Parker guided Troy to one of the best months of November in the country, as the Trojans won three of their final four games of the season and ranked as the nation's 19th-best offense and 25th-best defense that month.
His first season saw him inherit one of the most inexperienced teams in the country and then the loss of his starting quarterback after just 11 quarters of play. Troy's 12 players in their final year of eligibility were the fewest in the country, while Troy's 46 scholarship newcomers ranked as the third most nationally.
Ross finished the regular season fifth nationally with 11 touchdown catches and 15th in receiving yards. Additionally, Troy was one of the most efficient teams in the country, ranking second in the red zone and fifth on third downs.
Ten Trojans landed on All-Sun Belt Teams, highlighted by Ross' inclusion thrice, as a first team receiver and all-purpose selection and as the return specialist on the second team. Eight of Troy's 10 All-SBC picks had remaining eligibility.
The Trojans landed the Sun Belt's top recruiting class in Dec. 2024, signing 15 players with an 83.54 average per industry leader On3.
Parker led a Notre Dame offense in 2023 that ranked eighth nationally, averaging 39.1 points per game, in addition to ranking 12th in passing efficiency and 29th in total offense. Audric Estime was one of the nation's elite running backs, ranking third in rushing touchdowns (18), eighth in rushing yards per game (111.8) and ninth in rushing yards (1,341).
Behind Parker's offense, the Fighting Irish posted a 9-3 record against one of the nation's most challenging schedules, including four straight games against ranked opponents. Offensive tackle Joe Alt was a consensus All-America selection, while Estime was named to the Associated Press All-America Team.
Notre Dame's offense increased production across the board in Parker's lone season calling the plays in South Bend. The Irish improved their scoring by more than a touchdown per game, in addition to seeing increases in yards per game, passing yards per game, yards per play and red zone scoring.
In his first season at Notre Dame, Parker coached the Irish tight ends and helped guide Michael Mayer to a consensus All-America season, as Mayer finished his career as the most prolific pass catching end in school history. Mayer led the Irish with 67 catches for 809 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022, finishing his time at Notre Dame first on the program charts for tight end catches (180), receiving yards (2,099) and touchdowns (18).
Parker joined the Notre Dame staff following two seasons with former Troy head coach Neal Brown at West Virginia, where he was the offensive coordinator and receivers coach.
In his final season with the Mountaineers, WVU knocked off Texas and No. 15 Virginia Tech en route to an appearance in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. In 2020, despite having to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, West Virginia had one of the most improved offenses in the nation in terms of total yards, showing gains of more than 60 yards rushing per game, almost 30 yards passing a game, more than 90 yards of total offense and almost seven more points a game.
The offensive line had a productive year, with Leddie Brown rushing for 1,010 yards and nine touchdowns and Jarret Doege throwing for more than 2,500 yards and 14 touchdowns.
As Penn State's receivers coach and passing game coordinator in 2019, the Nittany Lions' offense averaged 35.8 points per game, ranking 15th nationally. Additionally, Penn State ranked 21st in red zone offense (90.4) and averaged 13.3 yards per completion, ranking No. 33 nationally.
Parker spent two years on the football staff at Duke (2017-18). During the 2018 season, his wide receivers accounted for 2,252 passing yards of the Blue Devils' 3,199 total offensive yards (70.4%).
He served his first year as the football operations assistant working with the offense in 2017. The Blue Devils offense had three All-ACC selections and, for the first time in program history, had three players with 500 or more rushing yards and a quarterback throw for more than 2,500 yards. Parker spent the spring as the running backs coach at Cincinnati before heading to Duke.
Prior to that, Parker spent four seasons at Purdue, where he coached the tight ends (2013-14) and wide receivers (2015-16). He was the recruiting coordinator and served as the interim head coach for the final six weeks of the 2016 season.
Parker spent two years as the wide receivers coach at Marshall (2011-12). The Thundering Herd led the nation in passing offense, averaging 365.1 yards per game. Receiver Tommy Shuler led the country and set the school record for receptions (110), ranking 18th nationally in yards per game (94.8).
Parker spent three seasons at UT-Martin as the running backs coach (2008), wide receivers coach (2009-10) and the passing game coordinator and recruiting coordinator (2010). He started his coaching career at Raceland High School in Raceland, Kentucky, and spent the 2007 season as a graduate assistant coach at Kentucky.
Parker earned two degrees from Kentucky, his bachelor's degree in business management in 2003 and his master's in education in 2005. He was a four-year letterwinner for the Wildcats, where he was a Southeastern Conference Scholar Athlete Honor Roll selection (2002-03) and CoSIDA Academic All-District IV Second Team honoree (2004).
A native of Louisa, Kentucky, Parker played at Lawrence County High School and set state receiving records with 238 catches, 4,814 yards and 52 touchdowns.
He and his wife, Kandi, have three daughters, Kolbi, Gwyneth and Rosalyn, and a son, Oliver.
In his first season at Troy, the Trojans produced the first 1,000-yard rushing and receiving duo in more than a decade and just the third in program history as Damien Taylor rushed for 1,010 yards and Devonte Ross recorded 1,043 receiving yards; Troy's first since 2012.
Parker guided Troy to one of the best months of November in the country, as the Trojans won three of their final four games of the season and ranked as the nation's 19th-best offense and 25th-best defense that month.
His first season saw him inherit one of the most inexperienced teams in the country and then the loss of his starting quarterback after just 11 quarters of play. Troy's 12 players in their final year of eligibility were the fewest in the country, while Troy's 46 scholarship newcomers ranked as the third most nationally.
Ross finished the regular season fifth nationally with 11 touchdown catches and 15th in receiving yards. Additionally, Troy was one of the most efficient teams in the country, ranking second in the red zone and fifth on third downs.
Ten Trojans landed on All-Sun Belt Teams, highlighted by Ross' inclusion thrice, as a first team receiver and all-purpose selection and as the return specialist on the second team. Eight of Troy's 10 All-SBC picks had remaining eligibility.
The Trojans landed the Sun Belt's top recruiting class in Dec. 2024, signing 15 players with an 83.54 average per industry leader On3.
Parker led a Notre Dame offense in 2023 that ranked eighth nationally, averaging 39.1 points per game, in addition to ranking 12th in passing efficiency and 29th in total offense. Audric Estime was one of the nation's elite running backs, ranking third in rushing touchdowns (18), eighth in rushing yards per game (111.8) and ninth in rushing yards (1,341).
Behind Parker's offense, the Fighting Irish posted a 9-3 record against one of the nation's most challenging schedules, including four straight games against ranked opponents. Offensive tackle Joe Alt was a consensus All-America selection, while Estime was named to the Associated Press All-America Team.
Notre Dame's offense increased production across the board in Parker's lone season calling the plays in South Bend. The Irish improved their scoring by more than a touchdown per game, in addition to seeing increases in yards per game, passing yards per game, yards per play and red zone scoring.
In his first season at Notre Dame, Parker coached the Irish tight ends and helped guide Michael Mayer to a consensus All-America season, as Mayer finished his career as the most prolific pass catching end in school history. Mayer led the Irish with 67 catches for 809 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022, finishing his time at Notre Dame first on the program charts for tight end catches (180), receiving yards (2,099) and touchdowns (18).
Parker joined the Notre Dame staff following two seasons with former Troy head coach Neal Brown at West Virginia, where he was the offensive coordinator and receivers coach.
In his final season with the Mountaineers, WVU knocked off Texas and No. 15 Virginia Tech en route to an appearance in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. In 2020, despite having to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, West Virginia had one of the most improved offenses in the nation in terms of total yards, showing gains of more than 60 yards rushing per game, almost 30 yards passing a game, more than 90 yards of total offense and almost seven more points a game.
The offensive line had a productive year, with Leddie Brown rushing for 1,010 yards and nine touchdowns and Jarret Doege throwing for more than 2,500 yards and 14 touchdowns.
As Penn State's receivers coach and passing game coordinator in 2019, the Nittany Lions' offense averaged 35.8 points per game, ranking 15th nationally. Additionally, Penn State ranked 21st in red zone offense (90.4) and averaged 13.3 yards per completion, ranking No. 33 nationally.
Parker spent two years on the football staff at Duke (2017-18). During the 2018 season, his wide receivers accounted for 2,252 passing yards of the Blue Devils' 3,199 total offensive yards (70.4%).
He served his first year as the football operations assistant working with the offense in 2017. The Blue Devils offense had three All-ACC selections and, for the first time in program history, had three players with 500 or more rushing yards and a quarterback throw for more than 2,500 yards. Parker spent the spring as the running backs coach at Cincinnati before heading to Duke.
Prior to that, Parker spent four seasons at Purdue, where he coached the tight ends (2013-14) and wide receivers (2015-16). He was the recruiting coordinator and served as the interim head coach for the final six weeks of the 2016 season.
Parker spent two years as the wide receivers coach at Marshall (2011-12). The Thundering Herd led the nation in passing offense, averaging 365.1 yards per game. Receiver Tommy Shuler led the country and set the school record for receptions (110), ranking 18th nationally in yards per game (94.8).
Parker spent three seasons at UT-Martin as the running backs coach (2008), wide receivers coach (2009-10) and the passing game coordinator and recruiting coordinator (2010). He started his coaching career at Raceland High School in Raceland, Kentucky, and spent the 2007 season as a graduate assistant coach at Kentucky.
Parker earned two degrees from Kentucky, his bachelor's degree in business management in 2003 and his master's in education in 2005. He was a four-year letterwinner for the Wildcats, where he was a Southeastern Conference Scholar Athlete Honor Roll selection (2002-03) and CoSIDA Academic All-District IV Second Team honoree (2004).
A native of Louisa, Kentucky, Parker played at Lawrence County High School and set state receiving records with 238 catches, 4,814 yards and 52 touchdowns.
He and his wife, Kandi, have three daughters, Kolbi, Gwyneth and Rosalyn, and a son, Oliver.
| Year | School | Record | Conf. Record | Conf. Finish | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Troy | 4-8 | 3-5 | T-5th (West) | |
| Troy Totals | 4-8 (.333) | 3-5 (.375) | |||
| 2016 | Purdue (Interim HC) |
0-6 | 0-6 | 7th (West) | |
| Purdue Totals | 0-6 (.000) | 0-6 (.000) | |||
| Career Totals | 4-14 (.222) | 3-11 (.214) | |||
Behind the Wall - S10, E3
Thursday, September 18
Behind The Wall - S10, E3
Wednesday, September 17
Troy Football Press Conference (Players) - Buffalo Game
Monday, September 15
Gerad Parker Press Conference - Buffalo Game
Monday, September 15
