MEMPHIS - Christian Brothers University President David Archer has announced that Chris Parker will serve as its new Director of Athletics. 
 
Parker replaces Donna Crone, who will become the Deputy Director of Athletics while transitioning towards retirement. Crone will also be responsible for compliance oversight and club sports. Under Crone's direction, CBU claimed its first Gulf South Conference men's soccer championship since 2012. During the Spring semester CBU student-athletes finished with a  3.22 grade point average.  

Parker comes to CBU with 32 years of experience at NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NAIA, NJCAA, and high school levels in positions as an Athletic Director, Assistant Athletic Director, Sports Information Director and Basketball Coach.

For the past 13 years, Parker has served as Athletic Director/Head Men's Basketball Coach at Arkansas State University Mid-South in West Memphis, where he has led its athletics program to the most wins of any junior college program in the state, with appearances in the Region 2 Tournament Championship games the last 10 years in a row and six championship titles.
 
In addition, Parker has served as the NJCAA Region 2 Women's Director, which includes two-year colleges in Arkansas and Oklahoma, and has served on several national committees including the NJCAA Student-Athlete Academic Success Council, the NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball Committee, the NJCAA Division I Softball Committee, the NJCAA Tennis Committee, and the NJCAA Division II Oversight Committee.

"I'm very appreciative to President Archer and the committee for the opportunity to lead our athletics program," said Parker. "CBU is a place of excellence, and I am excited to bring this mindset to our athletics department and hungry to get to work."
 
Prior to his position at ASU Mid-South, Parker coached at the collegiate level at Arkansas Tech University, Houston Baptist University, Texas Southern University, Jackson State University and Lubbock Christian University. Parker was a part of five conference championship teams during this time, appeared in four national tournaments and six conference tournament championship games, and has coached over 20 student-athletes who went on to play professionally.
 
Parker earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Corporate Video with a minor in Business from Abilene Christian University and an MEd in Sports Administration from Texas Tech University.
 
"I am confident that Chris will provide the vision and leadership to keep our Buccaneers competitive on the courts and on the playing fields — and successful in the classroom as well," Archer said. "Please join me in welcoming Chris Parker to our CBU family!"

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Christian Brothers University is a Catholic university founded on the heritage of Lasallian education. While large enough to provide educational opportunities in the arts, business, education, engineering, and sciences, the University is small enough to promote teaching as ministry and to provide challenging student-centered learning and personal growth. Students of diverse cultures and religious traditions are encouraged to grow in their own faith. The University welcomes students into an educational community of faith and service, one that is committed to academic excellence, the betterment of society and the care of God's creation.

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For additional information or to coordinate media interviews, please contact J.T. Webb, Director of Athletics Communications, at jwebb14@cbu.edu or (901) 321-3378.