Today’s interviewee is Chris Parker, former head coach at Pickens and Chapel Hill and now Pickens County Schools’ director of human resources. Parker is the founder of Parker Resources, a company that promotes the professional development of coaches and athletic directors. Parker is co-host of 92.9 The Game’s high school football show.
Chris Parker, founder of Parker Resources
1. What is Parker Resources? “It is a platform to help coaches and athletic directors. There are documents, courses, books, podcasts and more that can help coaches and ADs grow. There is a lot of training for teachers before they start teaching but very little for coaches about being a head coach or AD. The head coach is criticized constantly and has very little training coming into the job. This is true for all sports, not just football. I try to post a few things a week on social media. We have a weekly podcast I do with my brother, Michael, and friend, Chad Flatt. All of us are administrators now, and we talk about coaching issues with coaches and ADs from across the country.”
2. Why did you leave coaching, and what inspired you to start the company? “It was a very difficult decision to quit coaching football. We had two players pass away in 2017 and I had another daughter that same year. By late 2018, my perspective was just different, and the superintendent offered me an opportunity to work full-time at the district office. In February 2020 I was moved from athletics to director of human resources. When I found myself not involved in sports in any way, I started posting some of the things we did over the years on Twitter, and it took off. I had hundreds of people from all over the country asking me to put things together for them, so I put some document packages together. That led to the podcast, which led to writing a book, and another book, and now I’ve just recently finished my fifth book: a College Recruiting Guide for parents, athletes, and coaches. Since March 2020, I have helped coaches in all 50 states and a few other countries. I have been blown away by the support. It is a great feeling to be able to help coaches grow. It has been a great way to stay involved in the game that I love.”
3. In your two head coaching jobs at Chapel Hill and Pickens, your teams achieved the first playoff victories in history for both schools. What are the most important things a coach must do to make a struggling program a winner? “There are several factors that make a struggling program turn around. I would be lying if I didn’t say one of them is luck. You must have some good players on the team, you must have supportive administration, and you must hire good assistant coaches. If you have those things, now it is the head coach’s job to make it happen. Building relationships with everyone in the organization is the key. Focus on the people – the people make the place. Put relationships over everything. Then communicate with everyone your vision, even over-communicate with parents, players, admin, coaches. Find ways to present information in a way they understand your vision and get organized in everything you do. Do not focus on what you don’t have. Focus on what you do have and avoid petty problems. This seems to get most people that do not turn it around. Keep pushing your vision, regardless of issues.”
4. You watch high school football now as a fan. What are the two or three - or the single most - interesting story lines to the season at the midway point in the regular season? “I’m really intrigued by the number of quality teams in the state. I think there are many teams that are championship-level teams in each classification and only one can win the championship. It’s going to make for some great playoff matchups. Every year, Georgia seems to grow in number of quality teams. The level of quality coaching in the state is outstanding, and I hate that half of them must lose every week. It is exciting to see teams like Collins Hill, Mill Creek, Warner Robins, Trinity Christian and more that have started the season so hot, and it’s exciting to see teams that are doing things their school hasn’t done in a long time like Kennesaw Mountain, Long County, Georgia Military, Dougherty, Armuchee, etc. I love seeing teams come together and achieve. I’m also excited to see the level of coverage that high school football is getting in Georgia. We have so much good coverage. This newsletter is the best anywhere in the country. You guys do a great job. We have a great game on GPB and Peachtree TV each week with college football quality. Sam Crenshaw and I are on 92.9 the Game each Friday night 7 to midnight covering high school football. There are many other great radio shows, TV shows, social media accounts and more that make it exciting for the players, coaches and the communities. I would put our state’s high school football coverage up against anyone.”
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