After 13 years at Iowa, and 44 at the collegiate level as a whole, Norm Parker has decided to call it a career.
In a release, the Hawkeyes announced Parker has decided that this will be his final season in coaching. He will officially retire following Iowa’s Dec. 30 appearance in the Insight Bowl against Oklahoma.
“Norm’s contributions to our team the past 13 years are deeply appreciated, as he has had a tremendous impact on our program,” said head coach Kirk Ferentz in a statement. “As I have said publicly on many occasions, Norm is a superb defensive coach and has served as a strong role model and mentor for all of our players and our entire staff.”
Parker has battled diabetes for years, and had his right leg amputated below the knee in October of 2010. Four toes on his left foot had previously been amputated because of the disease.
Despite the health issues, Parker has long been known as one of the top defensive coaches in the country. In three of the past four seasons, the Hawkeyes have finished in the Top Ten in scoring defense nationally.
Earlier this month, Parker was named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Assistant Coach of the Year.
“I would like to announce that the 2011 Insight Bowl will be my last game as a football coach at Iowa,” Parker said in his statement. “I would like to personally thank Gary Barta, Kirk Ferentz, the coaches, and players at Iowa, along with the fantastic fans. It has been a great time, one that myself and my entire family greatly appreciate. I would also like to thank the office staff, the equipment people, and a special thanks to the medical staff, as I used them enough. The entire Hawkeye community has been great.
“My wife Linda, and all the members of our family, were very pleased to be members of the Hawkeye family. We truly enjoyed our time here. After 48 years of doing something I love, it is time to enjoy some time with the grandkids. Go Hawks!”
In addition to his decade-plus tenure at Iowa, he had been the coordinator at Vanderbilt, Michigan State and East Carolina. He began his collegiate coaching career in 1968 as Eastern Michigan’s offensive line coach.