Parker named Purdue tight ends coach

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Gerad Parker is the newest member to join Purdue football's coaching staff. Head Coach Darryl Hazell announced the hiring of Parker as tight ends coach on Monday.

Parker spent his previous two seasons at Marshall.

“Gerad is just what I was looking for in our tight ends coach,” Hazell said. “He’s a young and energetic coach with passing game experience. His background will help in the development of some very special tight ends in our program. He will also serve as our recruiting coordinator. His addition brings another smart, well-organized coach with a passion to make Purdue great to our staff.”

Parker becomes the eighth assistant to join Purdue's coaching staff.

He joined the Thundering Herd coaching staff in the spring of 2011 and spent two years as wide receivers coach. This past season, Marshall led all Football Bowl Subdivision teams in passing offense with an average of 365.1 yards per game.

In a Sept. 29 game against Purdue in West Lafayette, Marshall's wide receiver Tommy Shuler set an opponent record vs. the Boilermakers with 19 receptions for 200 yards.

Prior to Marshall, Parker spent three seasons at UT-Martin as the Skyhawks’ passing game coordinator, recruiting coordinator, wide receivers and running backs coach. He began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Kentucky, his alma mater.