INDIANAPOLIS - After 12 seasons as the IUPUI head women's basketball coach, Austin Parkinson has stepped down from his post to take over the Butler University program. He leaves as the program's all-time leader in wins (224) and guided the Jaguars to eight postseason berths and a pair of Horizon League titles. His teams achieved a winning record in nine of his 12 seasons on the sidelines, including eight 20-win seasons.

"On behalf of IUPUI, I would like to thank Coach Parkinson for his leadership, piloting the Jaguars through the most successful era in the program's history over the past 12 seasons," IUPUI Chancellor Andrew Klein said. "We are grateful for his coaching but even more so for mentoring and guiding our outstanding student-athletes toward success in and out of the classroom. We wish Austin, Whittney, and their family all the best as they move forward, and we will continue to build upon the foundation he helped create as we search for his replacement."

"I want to thank Coach Parkinson's for his hard work and the culture of success he established with the women's basketball program," IUPUI Director of Athletics Dr. Roderick Perry said. "His ability to recruit high character student-athletes and motivate and develop them to achieve unparalleled success is impressive. I wish he and his family success as they embark on this next chapter." 

This past season, Parkinson led the Jaguars to their first NCAA Tournament appearance after winning the Horizon League regular season and tournament titles. The Jags earned a 24-5 overall record and 18-2 conference record and received votes in the national polls late in the season. The Jaguars were a fixture among mid-major polls, ranking among the nation's top-10 for the bulk of the campaign. IUPUI saw graduate student Macee Williams earn AP All-American Honorable Mention honors and win Horizon League Player of the Year for the fourth consecutive year, capping one of the most prolific runs in Horizon League history. 
 
Parkinson was named 2020 Horizon League Coach of the Year after an impressive season that ended with IUPUI earning an NCAA Tournament berth, but the appearance never happened as the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.
 
In 2010, Parkinson inherited a three-win team just before the start of the season and increased the program's win total to 13 in year two. By year three, Parkinson increased the program's win total to 20-12 and had the Jaguars in the WNIT. All total, the Kokomo, Ind.-native led IUPUI to five straight Horizon League Tournament semifinals appearances and three straight championship games.
 
Parkinson closes his IUPUI career with a 224-141 record and 134-68 mark in conference play.