All Parker does is develop top-tier defenses at Iowa, and in 2023 he may have coached his best yet. The Hawkeyes’ top-five defense was the program’s best since 2008, and it earned him honors with the Broyles Award and 247Sports’ Defensive Coordinator of the Year. His defense carried one of the nation’s worst offenses to transform Iowa into a 10-win team despite ranking 130th nationally in scoring.
Iowa’s defense allowed only 15 touchdowns in 13 games while holding opponents to 13.2 points per game (No. 4 nationally). Despite the Hawkeyes’ offense struggling to score points and stay on the field, Parker’s defense allowed only 18 plays of 20-plus yards on 896 snaps, the best mark in the country.
Iowa replaced seven defensive starters, including All-American linebacker Jack Campbell, but didn’t miss a beat and actually improved statistically while remaining in the top five nationally in several major categories. Cornerback Cooper DeJean developed into one of the nation’s best players and was a finalist for the Nagurski Award and Thorpe Award.
Parker has coordinated the Hawkeyes’ defense the past 12 seasons, leading them to top-20 finishes in scoring in 10 seasons. Five times, Iowa finished in the top 10 — including four of the past five seasons.
