Last night we shared that Mississippi Valley State (FCS) offensive coordinator Sam Parker was leaving his post after one season.
Today, we've got an update on his next move.
Sources tell FootballScoop Parker is set to return to Michigan, and the ultra-competitive GLIAC, in an offensive coordinator role.
As part of some staff restructuring at Davenport University, head coach Sparky McEwen is bringing Parker on board as the team's new offensive coordinator, multiple sources have shared.
Prior to what would have been his ninth season on staff at Ferris State, Parker left his role as the offensive line coach at Ferris State for the opportunity to become an FCS offensive coordinator at Mississippi Valley State under first-year head coach Terrell Buckley around this time last year. The rare move from Division II assistant to first-time coordinator at the FCS level was the perfect testament for how other coaches have admired not just the Ferris State offense over the years, but also the program that has been built under Tony Annese in Big Rapids, Michigan.
At Ferris State, Parker was an integral piece in three of their past four national titles, including back to titles in 2021 and 2022, thanks in large part to the impressive numbers that Parkers front five helped pave the way for offensively. Parker also proved to be a top recruiter and developer of talent, as Ferris became known for their ability to rotate around 10 guys at a time into games at times.
In his final season at Ferris State, the Bulldogs offense averaged nearly 500 yards of total offense and 45 yards per game in the run to the national title.
Our understanding is that assistant head coach / offensive coordinator / offensive line coach and quarterbacks coach Devin Russell will remain with the program and will focus on coaching the offensvie line with the addition of Parker. Russell has been with the staff since March of 2022, and made an immediate impact in helping the school shatter a number of offensive records in his first season calling the offense, and added the assistant head coach title prior to the 2024 season after helping the program climb the national rankings during the 2023 season, peaking at #9 nationally.
Head coach Sparky McEwen and Davenport are coming off a 5-5 season where they averaged 33.4 points per game on the offensive side of the ball.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.