Sports, WVU Sports

Penn State WR coach Gerad Parker joins WVU coaching staff

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — There was a major shakeup for the West Virginia offensive coaching staff.

Penn State passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Gerad Parker will fill the vacated position left behind by Xavier Dye, who left for South Florida in December, WVU announced Friday.

Parker, however, was also named the offensive coordinator for the Mountaineers, a clear promotion from his spot with the Nittany Lions.

Last season, offensive line coach Matt Moore and running backs coach Chad Scott were co-offensive coordinators for WVU, while head coach Neal Brown called the plays. Moore was promoted to assistant head coach, whole Scott will remain in the co-coordinator role.

“I’m excited to add Gerad to the coaching staff at West Virginia,” Brown said in a news release. “I have known him for many years, and we have similar roots in the state of Kentucky. He brings years of successful experience, not only on the field but also as a recruiter who has covered a lot of territory. He will make an immediate impact on our staff. I look forward to him and his wife, Kandi, and their family becoming a part of Mountaineer football.”

Prior to Penn State, Parker spent time at Duke, Purdue and Marshall. He spent a year at Brown’s alma mater, Kentucky, as a graduate assistant. He was born in Huntington.

“I’m excited to be joining Neal Brown’s staff at West Virginia and becoming a part of the Mountaineer football family,” Parker said. “I have known Neal for a long time and have the utmost respect for him as a coach, a man, husband and father. I have seen his progression and have kept up with him as a head coach and know he is special. My father worked in a coal mine and in the coal industry, and I have a lot of respect for this state and for what it stands. I am honored and thankful to join this staff and work with these players. I look forward to trusting the climb.”

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