Rick Barnes has made a hire to Tennessee basketball’s support staff. The Vols are adding Chris Parker to their staff as the new assistant director of player development, they announced Thursday. Parker comes to Tennessee after spending the last two years as a graduate assistant at TCU.
“I feel truly blessed to have this amazing opportunity to join such a storied program,” Parker said in a statement. “I want to thank Rick Barnes and the entire coaching staff for their confidence in me. I look forward to doing everything I can to help Tennessee continue its tremendous success and pursuit of championships.”
TCU went 39-28 in Parker’s two seasons on staff as a graduate assistant including a NCAA Tournament berth and Round of 32 appearance last season. In his new position at Tennessee, Parker will be a key part of the Vols’ player development program and also contribute to opponent scouting reports in season.
Parker spent the first three years of his college career starring at Division III Henderson State in Arkansas. The 6-foot-1 guard averaged 14 points, 3.3 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game in his three seasons at Henderson State.
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A Plano, Texas native, Parker transferred to Liberty for his senior season where he was the starting point guard on a Flames team that posted a 23-6 record and made the NCAA Tournament as a 13-seed after winning the ASUN Tournament.
Parker averaged 10.3 points, 3.4 assists and 2.1 rebounds in his lone season at Liberty before playing professionally in Portugal and Georgia (the country) and eventually beginning a coaching career at TCU.
“Our staff is excited to have Chris join us here in Knoxville,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said. “He stood out to us as the ideal candidate to fill this position and we believe he will provide a great deal of value for our program. An excellent player at both the collegiate and professional levels, Chris brings a diverse background within the industry and an evident passion for the sport.”
Parker is replacing Riley Collins as Tennessee’s assistant director of player development. Collins, who spent the previous two years in the role, landed an assistant coach position on Justin Gainey’s inaugural staff at NC State.
Gainey and Collins were the only staffer’s Tennessee basketball lost this offseason. Barnes hired former Boston College head coach Earl Grant to replace Gainey on the Vols’ staff.
