Misplaced Pages

Timothy Michael Parenton (December 11, 1961 – October 30, 2023) was an American college baseball coach and third baseman. He played college baseball and college football at Mississippi State University. He then served as the head coach of the Samford Bulldogs (1998–2004) and the North Florida Ospreys (2018–2023).

Playing career

Parenton attended Jesuit High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Parenton played for the school's varsity baseball and football teams all four years in addition to lettering in two other sports. Parenton then enrolled at the Mississippi State University, to play college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs football team. He appeared in the 1980 Sun Bowl as a reserve quarterback, rushing for −4 yards on two attempts. Parenton would spend another season as a reserve quarterback for the Bulldogs before giving up football.

Parenton then pursued baseball full-time and was a 3-year letter winner for the Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team.

Coaching career

Parenton began his coaching career immediately after college as a graduate assistant for his alma mater Mississippi State.

After stepping away from college baseball, Parenton returned as an assistant coach for the Old Dominion Monarchs baseball program where he worked under his former colleague, Pat McMahon. After 5 years as an assistant, Parenton was up for the head coaching job at Old Dominion, but eventually lost out to Tony Guzzo. Parenton returned to Mississippi State as an assistant in 1995 through 1997.

In 1997, Parenton was hired to lead the Samford Bulldogs baseball program. The Bulldogs struggled under Parenton, never finishing over .500 and only qualifying for the conference tournament twice. Despite this, Parenton was named the 2004 Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year. On July 15, 2004, Parenton stepped down from his post at Samford to become an assistant coach at Florida.

On August 10, 2007, Parenton returned to Jesuit High School as the school's baseball coach. On April 22, 2010, it was announced that Parenton would complete the season with Jesuit, but then return to college baseball as an assistant with the North Florida Ospreys baseball team.

After three years as an assistant at North Florida, Parenton accepted his first professional challenge as the manager of the Hudson Valley Renegades of the Tampa Bay Rays organization. Parenton guided the Renegades to the 2017 New York–Penn League Championship in 2017.

On June 5, 2017, Parenton was named the third head coach in North Florida history. On May 30, 2023, Parenton stepped down as the head coach of the Ospreys due to health concerns.

Death

Parenton died from throat cancer on October 30, 2023, at the age of 61.

Head coaching record

References

1. "2017 Mississippi State Football TaxSlayer Bowl Media Guide". www.hailstate.com. Mississippi State University Athletics. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
2. "18 Mississippi State Baseball Media Guide". www.hailstate.com. Mississippi State University Athletics. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
3. ^ "Tim Parenton Accepts Position at Florida". www.samfordsports.com. Samford University. July 15, 2004. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
4. Mike Holtzclaw (July 13, 1994). "Odu Hires Vcu Baseball Coach". www.dailypress.com. Daily Press Media Group. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
5. "Tim Parenton Named OVC Coach of the Year". www.samfordsports.com. Samford University. May 25, 2004. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
6. Doug Tatum (August 10, 2007). "Jesuit hires alum as baseball coach". www.nola.com. Advance Local Media LLC. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
7. Mike Storm (April 22, 2010). "Lure back to college too great for Jesuit baseball coach Tim Parenton". www.nola.com. Advance Local Media LLC. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
8. "Former Four-Sport Blue Jay Gets First Shot as Pro Baseball Manager". www.jesuitnola.com. Jesuit High School of New Orleans. January 31, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
9. "New York-Penn League Playoffs". www.milb.com. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
10. "Tim Parenton Named Head Baseball Coach". www.unfospreys.com. University of North Florida. June 5, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
11. Gary Smits (May 30, 2023). "UNF Ospreys baseball coach Tim Parenton steps down after six seasons due to health reasons". www.jacksonville.com. USA TODAY. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
12. Smits, Garry (October 30, 2023). "Tim Parenton, who coached UNF baseball for six years, passes away after battle with cancer". Jacksonville Florida Times-Union. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
13. "ASUN Conference Cancels Intercollegiate Competitions for Remainder of Academic Year". March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.

External links

• North Florida Ospreys bio

• 1961 births
• 2023 deaths
• Mississippi State Bulldogs football players
• Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball players
• Old Dominion Monarchs baseball coaches
• Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball coaches
• Samford Bulldogs baseball coaches
• High school baseball coaches in the United States
• North Florida Ospreys baseball coaches
• Florida Gators baseball coaches
• Minor league baseball coaches
• Baseball players from New Orleans
• Deaths from throat cancer in the United States
• Deaths from cancer in Florida