Red Parker

Jimmy Red Parker was the nineteenth Clemson University head football coach and led the Tigers for four years, 1973-1976. Parker earned a BA degree in Physical Education at Arkansas A&M in 1953 where he participated in many sports. He earned three letters each in football, basketball and track, as a running back-defensive back, second baseman-shortstop, and sprinter.

Parker coached at the The Citadel for seven years, 1966-1972, peaking with an 8-3 season in 1971. Hired to replace unsuccessful Coach Hootie Ingram, Parker enjoyed his greatest season in 1974, living up to the slogan "Excitement Galore, Clemson Football '74", with a 7-4 record, including all six home games as wins. He was named ACC Coach of the Year.

The Tigers went 2-9 in 1975, and 3-6-2 in 1976, however, and Red Parker was cut loose by the Board of Trustees at the end of the Bicentennial season. Athletic Director Bill McClellan got the fun task of informing Parker he was gone when Parker refused to fire his assistants. Parker's 17-25-2 record earned him a .409 winning percentage.

In 1981, he coached at Southern Arkansas University, where he compiled a 7-3 record. From 1982 to 1987, he coached at Delta State University. From 1996 to 1998, he coached at Ouachita Baptist University where he compiled a 10-20 record.

Parker opened Red Parker's Ice Cream Parlor in 1975 in the little remodelled Texaco gas station building which sat on the tip of the intersection of the Old Greenville Highway and College Avenue and had most recently been James Spearman's barber shop. The business closed after Parker departed Clemson, and was eventually razed during the remodelling of that intersection.

Preceded by: Hootie Ingram

Clemson University Football Coaches

Succeeded by: Charlie Pell