Doug Parker served as head wrestling coach at Springfield College for 35 years starting in 1955 and concluding with his retirement in 1990.

In that span, Parker's teams won 22 New England Championship titles, including 16 consecutive from 1955-1970. Overall, Parker finished his coaching career with 485 victories, 35 straight winning seasons, and 15 Top 20 national rankings. During his tenure at Springfield, he produced 24 All-Americans, including 1984 Olympic gold medalist Jeff Blatnick.

Parker was instrumental in building a winning tradition at Springfield College and he instilled a strong set of values that the current wrestling program carries on with pride. In 2008, Springfield College became only the fourth collegiate wrestling program in the country to win 900 dual meets, joining Iowa State University, Oklahoma State University and Oregon State University with that honor.

What made coach Parker so special were the personal connections he made with his student-athletes and also other members of the campus. Coach Parker had an unconditional regard for his student-athletes and he always had creative ways to connect with and motivate his student-athletes. All of these qualities helped develop great wrestlers and great wrestling teams at Springfield College. Parker, a 1951 Springfield College graduate, spent 41 years at his alma mater. In the 35 years as head wrestling coach, he totaled an overall record of 485-159-11. He was named New England "Coach of the Year" three times and was inducted into the Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1997.

(Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections)