INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI Athletics Department and Head Basketball Coach Ron Hunter announced the hiring of Austin Parkinson as Assistant Basketball Coach. Parkinson takes over for Eric Allen, who recently became the program’s Director of Player Development.
"We’re excited about Austin joining our coaching staff," Hunter said. "He relates really well with college student-athletes and he knows the state of Indiana. He played for one of the best in (Gene) Keady and is a bright young man. He’s going to be a great addition to our program."
Parkinson was IPFW’s Director of Basketball Operations last season as a member of Head Coach Dane Fife’s staff. In his lone season with the Mastodons, he helped IPFW reach The Summit League semifinals and post a 10-3 home record. Prior to that, the Kokomo-native spent two seasons as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Indianapolis under Todd Sturgeon. In his second year, he aided the Greyhounds to a 13-13 overall mark before heading to IPFW.
As a player, Parkinson was a four-year letterwinner at Purdue for legendary Head Coach Gene Keady. He ended his career tied for tenth on the Boilermakers’ all-time assist list after leading the team in helpers in both his sophomore and senior campaigns. He also led the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio in each of his final three seasons. Following his playing career, he spent one season as a Student Assistant in Keady’s final season on the sidelines. He received his B.S. from Purdue in Organizational Skills and Leadership in 2004 and his Masters in the same concentration two years later.
Parkinson prepped at Northwestern High School where he finished as the school’s all-time leader in points, assists and steals. He was a four-time Team MVP and a two-time Nike All-American.
"I’m excited for the opportunity to be a part of Coach Hunter’s staff," Parkinson said. "He’s shown a lot of loyalty to IUPUI and the city of Indianapolis and I really respect what he’s been able to do. He’s been able to establish a winning program and that’s something I wanted to be a part of.
"Personally, I’ve played in the state and worked in Indianapolis, so I want to continue to broaden my base and help the program continue to win."
The Parkinson is well known throughout the state of Indiana as Austin’s father, Bruce, is Purdue’s all-time assists leader and a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. His grandfather, Jack, played for the legendary Adolph Rupp at Kentucky and is a member of the Indiana and Kentucky Basketball Halls of Fame.
Parkinson’s duties will include recruiting, on-court development, practice planning and academic oversight. He is set to begin immediately.
