Gerad Parker, Notre Dame offensive coordinator this past year for the 9-3 Fighting Irish, has emerged as the frontrunner for the Troy head coaching position, several sources told FootballScoop.
Troy officials have been seeking a replacement in recent days for Jon Sumrall, hired away last week by Tulane after Sumrall led Troy to 23 wins and back-to-back SunBelt Conference titles.
Coincidentally, Parker and Sumrall were teammates together at the University of Kentucky.
Much as Sumrall exited a high-profile post -- he was Kentucky's top-notch defensive coordinator, Parker has positioned himself to do the same after one year at the helm of the Fighting Irish offense.
In addition to his past two seasons on Marcus Freeman's Notre Dame staff, where Parker first was tight ends coach and then elevated to offensive coordinator in February after Tommy Rees' exit to Alabama, Parker also has worked as an assistant coach under David Cutcliffe at Duke and James Franklin at Penn State.
Though Parker has never been a full-time head coach, he had a six-game stint as Purdue's interim coach in 2016 after the Boilermakers fired Darrell Hazell.
For Troy, Parker emerged from a grouping of finalists that sources told FootballScoop included both West Virginia defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley and SMU defensive coordinator Scott Symons.
Parker first interviewed with Troy officials late last week and, sources said, was so impressive to them during that time that the school moved forward over the weekend with Parker, his second interview session with Troy’s contingent unfolding Sunday.