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Alvin Parker noted as one of the best young coaches in the country will direct the ECSU offense for the sixth season. Parker's 2006 Viking Offense finished second in scoring during the regular season and second in total offense on their way to the conference championship game. Behind Parker's leadership, the ECSU offense had a record breaking year in 2006, one in which saw 5 offensive players be recognized as all conference. The Vikings were no lower than 3rd in any of the major offensive categories and had five 400 plus yard games. The Vikings Offense did all of this while going up against five defenses rank in the top 25 in total defense. Senior quarterback Curtis Rich had one of the best seasons for any Viking quarterback for under Parker's guidance during the 2006 season, where he completed 52% of his passes and threw 21 touchdowns against only 4 interceptions during the regular season. In 2006 Parker took an offense that featured three new starters on the offensive line and propelled them into one of the top units in the country giving up only 11 sacks, an offensive line that featured All-American Ronnie McClary. The Vikings Offense featured the league's top reception leader in Marvin Jackson and the leagues top scorer in Chris Carter. Both Jackson and Carter ranked in the top of all receiving categories. 2006 also saw Brandon Fields flourish under Parker. Fields was First Team All-CIAA and was second in the league in rushing. He finished the year with five 100 plus yard games. A Native of Washington, D.C., Parker joined the staff of Coach Waverly Tillar in 2004 and immediately converted the Vikings offense into a "Multiple Set Offense". Success in running the multiple offense is nothing new for Parker. He came to ECSU after five seasons at Virginia Union University, where he served as offensive coordinator and running backs coach. While at Virginia Union University Parker was on the staff of Hall of Famer and the all time winningest coach in CIAA History Willard Bailey. Parker spent five seasons at Virginia Union University, while at Virginia Union he was part of a staff that participated in the 2000, 2001, and 2003 CIAA Championship game. In the 5 years spent at Virginia Union the Panthers won 38-football games won 3 Eastern division titles, a CIAA title and participated in the 2001 Pioneer Bowl. Parker credits most of his football knowledge to Coach Bailey was also served as his Head Coach while Parker was a player at Virginia Union. "I have tons of respect for Coach Bailey he believed in me as a player and he also gave me my first coaching job so he also believed in me as a coach, I basically owe my entire coaching career to him". During that time Parker coached 24 ALL-CIAA players, 4 All-Americans, and the CIAA's all time leading rusher and single season TD scorer Andre' Braxton. Braxton was named All CIAA 4 straight seasons and named the player of the year in the 2000 season. Braxton also won the 2000 Alonzo "Jake" Gaither Award for the top player in Black College football, this award is also known as the Black College Hiesman Trophy. Despite Losing Braxton, under the tutelage of Parker freshman running back Larry Edwards was recognized as first team ALL-CIAA, and the next season as a Streets and Smith pre-season All-American, in all of Parker's years at Virginia Union the Panther had a running back represented on the all conference first or second team. Parker has coached NFL players Pete Hunter (Seattle Seahawks), James Atkins (SanFran Cisco 49er's) and Jerome Leslie (Philadelphia Eagles). In the summer of 2006 Parker was one of twenty coaches selected to participate in the NCAA Coaching Academy. This was a new incentive put together by the NCAA and others athletic groups to prepare minorities to acquire head coaching positions. While attending Virginia Union University, Parker earned 4 varsity letters with the Panthers, he was the team captain of the 1997 and 1998 squad and was named offensive MVP in 1996 and 1998. Parker's name is still in the record book as 5th all time in single season TD scored. Parker still also holds the record for the longest TD in Gold Bowl History (79 yd TD reception).
Parker, who has a M.S. degree (2001) in Athletic Administration/ Sports Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University, also serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Education. Parker received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Union University in Mass Communications. Parker has written articles published in American Football Monthly and in Coach and Athletic Director. Parker is also the President of HOME TEAM Athletic Consultants a company based in Richmond, VA, the mission of the company is "helping athletes reach their full potential". Parker is an active member of the (AFCA) American Football Coaches Association and also participates in (FCA) Fellowship for Christian Athletes. Parker says his coaching philosophy is simple "The key is to have balance, not necessarily running and passing equally, but getting the ball in the hands of all of your playmakers" |
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