Legendary Collegiate Wrestling Coach Doug Parker Dies At 95

SPRINGFIELD, MA — Doug Parker, a World War II U.S. Army veteran who coached wrestling at Springfield College for 35 years and was the father of longtime Enfield High School wrestling coach Kirk Parker, died April 24. He was 95.

From 1955 to 1990, Parker compiled a career record of 518-169-11, a .750 winning percentage. His teams never had a losing season, and he was named New England Coach of the Year three times. Springfield won 21 New England titles and produced 24 All-Americans, including 1984 Olympic gold medalist Jeff Blatnick.

Parker was a member of the NCAA Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame. In 1999, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum awarded him the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award in recognition of his years of dedication to the development of leadership and citizenship in young people through the sport of wrestling.

A high school wrestling tournament, the Doug Parker Invitational, started in Somers in 1990 and later moved to Enfield High School, where his son Kirk was head coach for 25 years. Top teams from around New England competed at the Invitational, which ran through 2012. Since 2013, Springfield has hosted the Doug Parker Invitational, attracting college squads from all over the Northeast.

Ben Aleks, an Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame inductee who coached Enrico Fermi High School to victory in the inaugural Invitational, credits Parker with telling him about a coaching vacancy in 1983.

"If it wasn't for Doug Parker, I would not have had the honor of coaching at Fermi," said Aleks, who will join Parker in the National Hall of Fame next April. "Plus, Fermi is where I met my wife Candy, and was a stepping stone to the National Hall of Fame. He showed me some moves, as he was an excellent technician. He would help anybody."

In 2012, the Douglas Parker Wrestling Room was dedicated at the Springfield College Physical Education Complex.

"To many of us, Springfield College wrestling and Doug Parker have become synonymous with one another over the years," current Springfield College head wrestling coach Jason Holder said. "There are a number of traits that made Coach Parker so special, but what always resonated with me was the lasting impact that Coach had on his student-athletes. Years after their time with him, our alums revered Coach, as the lessons he taught through wrestling translated into young men becoming better fathers, husbands, and leaders in their community. Coach Parker always found a way to fit 'Keep Smiling' into every conversation. There's no doubt that we will all be smiling as we reflect on the special memories we have of him."

Springfield College Director of Athletics Craig Poisson said, "Coach Parker was a nationally-known name in collegiate wrestling circles, and a legendary teacher-coach on Alden Street. His impact on others has reverberated through the decades; he will be sadly missed by many, and especially during our annual Doug Parker Wrestling Invitational, an event Coach would routinely make an appearance at where he was clearly in his element. His smile, upbeat attitude, his ability to teach square dancing and wrestling with equal acumen - we lost a special man who meant so much to so many."

Parker was predeceased by his wife Patricia, to whom he was married for 64 years. His son Kirk, who was elected to the Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013, died in Jan. 2019.

He is survived by his son Scott, four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and two sisters.

Family and friends are invited to gather at the Colonial Forastiere Funeral Home, 985 Main St., Agawam, Mass., on Saturday, May 8 from 1-3 p.m. for a period of visitation. Reflections and stories about Parker will be shared from 3-4 p.m. His complete obituary may be viewed here.

To register for free Enfield news alerts and more, click here.