Former DC Parker passes away
Posted on 13. Jan, 2014 by admin in Iowa Football
By Brendan Stiles
HawkeyeDrive.com
Former Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker died Monday morning. He was 72.
According to a release sent out by the UI, Parker was at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics at the time of his death.
Parker was hired from Vanderbilt shortly after Kirk Ferentz became Iowa’s head coach in Dec. 1998 and served 13 seasons as the Hawkeyes’ defensive mastermind. Under his tutelage, a total of 24 Iowa defensive players to play under him were drafted by NFL teams between 2000-2012.
“Norm played a major and key role in any on the field success we experienced during his 13 years as our defensive coordinator,” Ferentz said in a statement Monday. “More important and valuable is the strong and positive impact he had on our players, staff, support staff and fans, everyone he interfaced with during his 15 years in Iowa.
“Norm was an excellent football coach. Beyond that, he was a tremendous spouse, father and cherished friend to many.”
Parker had his right foot amputated as a result of diabetic complications during the 2010 season. He announced his retirement in December 2011 before coaching his final game, which was Iowa’s 2011 Insight Bowl match-up against Oklahoma.
His coaching career began in 1965 at St. John’s High School in Michigan. From there, Parker went on to coach at eight different Division-I football programs during his career, including Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan State.
Parker is survived by his second wife Linda, four children and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ginger, and son, Jeffrey. His funeral will take place Jan. 17 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Chelsea, Mich., and a memorial service in Iowa City has also been scheduled for a date still to be determined.
Recent Comments