Nathan Baird

nbaird@jconline.com

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Former Purdue football assistant Gerad Parker will become the running backs coach at Cincinnati, according to a report from footballscoop.com.

Journal & Courier sources confirmed the report. Parker served as interim head coach over the final six games of last season, following Darrell Hazell's dismissal. He previously served as tight ends coach and wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator.

Parker declined to comment on the report. He would become the second former Boilermaker assistant to join the Cincinnati staff. New head coach Luke Fickell hired former Purdue linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman as the Bearcats' defensive coordinator.

Parker's former head coach at Kentucky, Joker Phillips, is Cincinnati's new wide receivers coach.

Purdue lost all six games under Parker. However, he earned compliments from both players and administrators for the energy and morale boost he provided after the firing. He continued to recruit on Purdue's behalf after the end of the season and after Jeff Brohm's hire as the new head coach.

"I can’t say enough about the job Gerad did for us in what was a uniquely challenging situation," Purdue athletic director Mike Bobinski said via e-mail. "I know I speak for everyone associated with the entire athletics department in thanking him and Kandi and wishing them all the best."

Parker previously coached running backs at Tennessee-Martin.

It is unknown whether or not Parker's decision affects other positions on Brohm's staff. Purdue had not yet given the title of running backs coach to any of the incoming assistant coaches. Brohm hired Chris Barclay, his running backs coach at Western Kentucky, as offensive quality control coach last week.

Contact Journal & Courier Purdue sports reporter Nathan Baird at nbaird@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @nbairdjc.