As a Varsity Basketball coach and Special Education teacher of local teens, he knows that his students and athletes are challenged by peer pressure, struggles with academics, and often a feeling of loneliness. Parker hopes the youth he encounters know they can get through those difficulties.

“Whatever you go through, you get through because we’ve all been through things in our life we would never think we would get through,” Parker said.

He wants to be a listening ear for his students and players helping them achieve their goals and triumph over their challenges. As a second generation coach and educator, he has not just redefined what winning means to his players but also what it means to be a coach.

“I always tell my players I’m a teacher on the court. It’s like my classroom. I conduct it the same way,” he stated.

Parker said regardless of whether his athletes become professional basketball players or not, he wants to develop them into professionals. This coaching approach includes weekly grade checks, a parent-player contract, and professional attire on game days, which he believes increases their pride in the team and themselves.

With tryouts for the basketball team approaching, he plans to try something different this season to further develop players. Parker will be implementing the team reading of author and educator, Kwame Alexander’s The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life. He sees that some of his players struggle with their academics, and he thinks this book will help them grow as players and learners.

Parker’s love of reading has evolved. In fact, as a child, he said he did not like to read. It was not until he became a Special Day Class educator for second and third graders that this changed for him.

“Reading really became important to me when I became a teacher…“It’s quite rewarding when I see young kids learn how to read because they’ve given up,” Parker said.

He saw his young students struggling to pronounce words, and now that he teaches teenagers, he knows that struggling with reading is not just restricted to younger students.

“They see the words; they [get] intimidated. So, my goal was to make it comfortable for them… a comfortable place where they felt safe,” Parker stated. “I just have a passion for it because I think when you read, you can learn a lot about life.”

Parker hopes that using the rules from The Playbook this year will make his players better equipped for the season and for their futures.

In preparation for sharing the book with his team, Parker has already identified his favorite rule, which is “Follow the Rules.” Returning and new players will form the team this year, and he believes they will all walk away with this lesson.

“Follow the rules and be successful. Show up on time, and do what you’ve gotta do,” Parker said.
“They can carry that over to life when they get employed; show up on time, and do what you gotta do.”

He plans to make reading a regular part of the team’s practice routine and hopes it helps build a strong bond for the players.

​“I’m so excited…because it’s going to bring us closer together,” Parker stated. “I want them to be winners, and winners to me [are] just not in a basketball game. It’s winners at life.”