EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire athletics program mourns the passing of longtime wrestling coach and friend Don Parker. Parker passed away November 13 at the age of 79.

Parker was an instrumental figure for the UW-Eau Claire wrestling program. He served as head coach of the Blugolds for 32 years in a career spanning from 1977 to 2009. He coached countless wrestlers over the course of his time with UW-Eau Claire and had an immeasurable impact on the campus community.

Parker's teams produced one national champion, 12 All-Americans and 15 conference champions. He became the school's first recipient of the WIAC Wrestling Coach of the Year award when he received the honor in the 1999-00 season.

Parker was also an assistant Blugold football coach for 12 seasons and an instructor in the Department of Kinesiology. A native of Hawkeye, Iowa and a four-sport letterman at North Fayette County Community School, Parker was a state wrestling champion in high school and then went on to win two NCAA Division II titles at State College of Iowa, now known as the University of Northern Iowa. As a Division II national champion, he qualified for the NCAA Division I tournament where he placed sixth at 191 pounds in 1967. A three-time North Central Conference champion and conference MVP in 1966, he wrestled in the first NCAA All-Star meet.

Before arriving in Eau Claire, Parker spent four years as the head coach at Upper Iowa University following stints at Zion-Benton High School in Illinois, Vernonia High School in Oregon and Hillsboro High School in Oregon. Parker served as president of the NAIA national wrestling coaches association in 1986-87. He was named NAIA District 14 Coach of the Year in 1987. He was inducted into the Northern Iowa Hall of Fame in 1986, the NCAA Division II Hall of Fame in 2000, the Iowa Glen Brand Hall of Fame in 2007 and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame-Wisconsin Chapter in 2010. He was also a member of the 1964 Northern Iowa football team that was inducted into the Panthers' Hall of Fame.

The Blugolds' annual home open tournament, the Don Parker Open, is named in honor of Parker. He was a regular attendee at the tournament, supporting the Blugolds from the sidelines.
 
The Blugolds will hold a moment of silence in honor of Parker prior to their home opener tonight against UW-Oshkosh.