[Do-double-gg]

[Image: http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/pur/...28168.jpeg]
Gerad Parker is now coaching at Purdue

Gerad Parker is in his second season as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Purdue. He was hired Feb. 11, 2013.

"Gerad is just what I was looking for in our tight ends coach," head coach Darrell Hazell said. "He's a young and energetic coach with passing game experience. His background will help in the development of some very special tight ends in our program. He will also serve as our recruiting coordinator. His addition brings another smart, well-organized coach with a passion to make Purdue great to our staff."

Parker joined the Thundering Herd coaching staff in the spring of 2011 and spent two years as wide receivers coach. This past season, Marshall led all Football Bowl Subdivision teams in passing offense with an average of 365.1 yards per game.

Under Parker's guide in 2012, wide receiver Tommy Shuler led all FBS players individually with 9.2 receptions per game and finished 18th nationally with 94.8 yards per game average. In a Sept. 29 game against Purdue in West Lafayette, Shuler set an opponent record vs. the Boilermakers with 19 receptions for 200 yards.

Prior to Marshall, Parker spent three seasons at UT-Martin as the Skyhawks' passing game coordinator, recruiting coordinator, wide receivers and running backs coach. He began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Kentucky, his alma mater.

A four-year letterwinner for the Wildcats, he was twice named to the SEC Scholar Athlete Honor Roll (2002 and 2003), was voted as the "Most inspirational Player" by his teammates in 2004 and was the UK Football Scholar Athlete of the Year (2004). He was collegiate teammates with current Purdue supervisor of football operations Tommy Cook.

Parker earned his bachelor's degree in business management from UK in 2003 and a master's in education, also from UK, in 2005.