Chad Parker Named 2010 Northern League Manager of the Year
September 17, 2010 - Northern League (NL)
Joliet JackHammers News Release
Joliet, IL - Joliet JackHammers manager Chad Parker was named the 2010 Northern League Manager of the Year. He led the JackHammers to a 53-47 (.530) record, a 20-game improvement from the 2009 season.
Parker, who was also named the Frontier League Manager of the Year in 2009, led Joliet to its first winning season since 2004 and first playoff berth since its inaugural season of 2002. After earning the three seed for the 2010 Northern League Playoffs, Joliet ultimately was knocked-out in an extra-inning affair versus the Kansas City T-Bones in a fifth and deciding game in the first round.
Parker, who inherited a last place team when he joined Joliet last October, pulled off the quick turn-around behind solid pitching, defense, and hitting. The JackHammers finished in the top half of the league in team ERA, fielding percentage, and average. Parker was rewarded for his efforts at the end of this season with a two-year contract extension which will put him at the helm of the team through the 2012 season.
As well as leading the team on the field, Parker serves as the Director of Baseball Operations for the JackHammers. Prior to joining Joliet, Parker held the same positions with the River City Rascals of the Frontier League in 2009. He also served as Bench Coach/Director Player Procurement for the Macon Music of the South Coast League in 2007 and served as the Head Baseball Coach at Brewton Parker College (Mt. Vernon, GA) from 2001-2006.
When asked about the award Chad Parker said "It is truly an honor to be named Northern League Manager of the Year. This award is a testament to the dedication of the entire JackHammer organization. We had the resources, the vision, the work ethic and a lot people did a lot of things to get this turned around and I only had a small part, so I am very humbled and appreciative to be blessed by the people I had around me."
Parker, a native of Adairsville, Georgia is married to wife Beth and the couple has five children and one grandchild.
• Discuss this story on the Northern League message board...
Northern League Stories from September 17, 2010
- Stanton's Gem Gives RedHawks Back-to-back Titles, Hoorelbeke Named MVP - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Stanton's One-Hitter Gives Fargo Back-to-Back Titles - Kansas City Monarchs
- Hoorelbeke Named NL Relief Pitcher of the Year - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Chad Parker Named 2010 Northern League Manager of the Year - Joliet JackHammers
- Chad Parker Named 2010 Manager of the Year - NL
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
