Texas A&M University-Texarkana Athletics has announced the hiring of Tyler Parker as the new Head Men’s Basketball Coach.
Parker comes to A&M-Texarkana with an impressive coaching resume that includes experience at every level of collegiate basketball. Known throughout college basketball for his ability to develop student-athletes, recruit high-level talent, and build successful programs, Parker brings more than a decade of coaching experience to the Eagles.
“We are excited to welcome Tyler Parker as the next head coach of our men’s basketball program. Tyler brings a wealth of experience from successful NCAA programs and has been part of building the type of culture and competitive excellence we aspire to achieve at Texas A&M University-Texarkana,” said Director of Athletics Ryan Wall. As we continue our transition to NCAA Division II and prepare to compete in one of the premier conferences in the country, Tyler’s experience, leadership, and vision make him an outstanding fit for our program. He understands what it takes to compete and succeed at the NCAA level, and we are confident he will build a championship culture that our student-athletes, alumni, and community will be proud to support. This is a tremendous hire for our university, and we’re excited about the future of Eagle men’s basketball under his leadership.”
“I am incredibly grateful to be named the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, and I am excited for the opportunity to lead this program through the transition into the Lone Star Conference (LSC) and NCAA Division II,” Parker said. “The Lone Star Conference is one of the premier conferences in NCAA Division II, and I couldn’t be more honored to have our program competing at that level. I want to thank our President, Dr. Ross Alexander, and Athletic Director, Ryan Wall, for their trust in me and for the opportunity to lead this basketball program. I believe wholeheartedly in their vision for this university and the athletics department, and I’m ready to get to work.”
Prior to being named the head coach at A&M-Texarkana, Parker spent three seasons at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) as the Director of Player Development/Recruiting Coordinator under Head Coach Chris Beard. In that role, he oversaw player development initiatives, coordinated recruiting efforts, managed transfer portal evaluations, and helped implement offensive and defensive concepts. During his time in Oxford, Parker helped guide the Rebels to the program’s 2025 NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen appearance while assisting in the recruitment and development of numerous successful student-athletes.
Before joining Ole Miss, Parker spent five seasons at the University of South Alabama, joining the program in 2018 as the Director of Basketball Operations before being promoted to assistant coach in 2019. During his tenure, South Alabama recorded four consecutive winning seasons, including a 20-win campaign in 2019-20 and a 21-12 finish in 2022-23. Parker played a significant role in scouting, recruiting, and player development, with an emphasis on developing the Jaguars’ guards. His efforts helped produce multiple All-Sun Belt Conference selections, including First Team All-Sun Belt guard Michael Flowers, a Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year honoree, and several National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District recipients.
Parker was also a member of the Nicholls State coaching staff during the 2017-18 season, serving as the Director of Basketball Operations and Recruiting Coordinator. Working alongside current South Alabama Head Coach Richie Riley, Parker helped the Colonels capture a share of the Southland Conference Championship, the program’s first league title since 1995, while posting their highest win total in two decades.
Prior to Nicholls State, Parker spent two seasons as the Associate Head Coach at Shorter University, where he helped lead the Hawks to a 17-win season and coached Division II National Player of the Year, Phil Taylor. During the 2016-17 season, Parker served as interim head coach for three games, compiling a 2-1 record.
Parker began his coaching career at his alma mater, Faulkner University, where he spent two seasons on staff following a standout playing career. During his time as an assistant coach, the Eagles posted a combined 43-17 record and advanced to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament. Parker also spent time at Crowley’s Ridge College (CRC), where he served as the head coach of the junior varsity program and an assistant coach for the varsity team. At CRC, Parker recruited the program’s leading scorer while helping establish a school record for victories.
As a player, Parker was a four-year letterwinner and starting guard at Faulkner University. He helped lead the Eagles to the Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals during the 2011-12 season.
A native of Huntsville, Alabama, Parker earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Faulkner University in 2013 before completing his Master of Business Administration at Shorter University in 2017.
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