University of Tennessee Athletics
Barnes Tabs Chris Parker as Assistant Director of Player Development
May 28, 2026 | Men's Basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – University of Tennessee head men's basketball coach Rick Barnes announced Thursday the hiring of Chris Parker as the assistant director of player development.
Parker comes to Tennessee from TCU, where spent the 2025-26 campaign as a graduate assistant for the Horned Frogs.
"Our staff is excited to have Chris join us here in Knoxville," Barnes said. "He stood out to us as the ideal candidate to fill this position and we believe he will provide a great deal of value for our program. An excellent player at both the collegiate and professional levels, Chris brings a diverse background within the industry and an evident passion for the sport."
A native of Plano, Texas, Parker spent last season working in his home state for TCU. He aided the program to a 23-12 record that included three top-10 wins and a spot in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32.
The 23 victories tied for the fifth-most in school history. It was the top total for a TCU team that reached the NCAA Tournament in 28 years, since 1997-98.
"I feel truly blessed to have this amazing opportunity to join such a storied program," Parker said. "I want to thank Rick Barnes and the entire coaching staff for their confidence in me. I look forward to doing everything I can to help Tennessee continue its tremendous success and pursuit of championships."
Parker played professional basketball for two seasons. He spent the 2022-23 season with Maia Basket Clube in the Portuguese Proliga and averaged 23.0 points per game. In 2021-22, he competed for BC Titebi Tbilisi in the Georgian Super Liga, averaging 13.0 points per game and aiding the team to its first playoff berth in over five years.
Collegiately, Parker concluded his career at the Division I level with Liberty in 2020-21. He averaged 10.3 points, 3.4 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 45.5 percent from the field, 37.3 percent beyond the arc and 82.6 percent at the line. The ASUN All-Tournament Team designee helped Liberty go 23-6 (11-2), sweep the ASUN titles and reach the NCAA Tournament. Parker also competed in the 2021 Dos Equis 3x3U National Championship in Indianapolis.
From 2017-20, Parker played for Henderson State in Arkadelphia, Ark., where he averaged 14.0 points, 3.3 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals across 89 appearances, all but eight of which he started. Parker, who amassed 1,243 points in three seasons, collected First Team All-GAC honors as a junior after producing a team-best 15.3 points per game for a squad that went 23-8, won the GAC Tournament and made the NCAA Division II Tournament. He was an All-GAC Honorable Mention the prior year.
Parker graduated from Henderson State in 2020 with a degree in sports management. He added a master's degree in executive leadership (business) from Liberty in 2021.
In addition, Parker comes from a coaching background. His father, Charlie, spent nearly 50 years as a coach at the college, NBA, G League, overseas professional and international levels. That included serving as the head coach at Southern Cal from 1994-96, an assistant for the Dallas Mavericks from 1996-2005, an assistant for the New Orleans Hornets from 2006-10 and as the head coach of the Chinese Taipei national team from 2018-22, among other prominent roles.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men's basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
Parker comes to Tennessee from TCU, where spent the 2025-26 campaign as a graduate assistant for the Horned Frogs.
"Our staff is excited to have Chris join us here in Knoxville," Barnes said. "He stood out to us as the ideal candidate to fill this position and we believe he will provide a great deal of value for our program. An excellent player at both the collegiate and professional levels, Chris brings a diverse background within the industry and an evident passion for the sport."
A native of Plano, Texas, Parker spent last season working in his home state for TCU. He aided the program to a 23-12 record that included three top-10 wins and a spot in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32.
The 23 victories tied for the fifth-most in school history. It was the top total for a TCU team that reached the NCAA Tournament in 28 years, since 1997-98.
"I feel truly blessed to have this amazing opportunity to join such a storied program," Parker said. "I want to thank Rick Barnes and the entire coaching staff for their confidence in me. I look forward to doing everything I can to help Tennessee continue its tremendous success and pursuit of championships."
Parker played professional basketball for two seasons. He spent the 2022-23 season with Maia Basket Clube in the Portuguese Proliga and averaged 23.0 points per game. In 2021-22, he competed for BC Titebi Tbilisi in the Georgian Super Liga, averaging 13.0 points per game and aiding the team to its first playoff berth in over five years.
Collegiately, Parker concluded his career at the Division I level with Liberty in 2020-21. He averaged 10.3 points, 3.4 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 45.5 percent from the field, 37.3 percent beyond the arc and 82.6 percent at the line. The ASUN All-Tournament Team designee helped Liberty go 23-6 (11-2), sweep the ASUN titles and reach the NCAA Tournament. Parker also competed in the 2021 Dos Equis 3x3U National Championship in Indianapolis.
From 2017-20, Parker played for Henderson State in Arkadelphia, Ark., where he averaged 14.0 points, 3.3 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals across 89 appearances, all but eight of which he started. Parker, who amassed 1,243 points in three seasons, collected First Team All-GAC honors as a junior after producing a team-best 15.3 points per game for a squad that went 23-8, won the GAC Tournament and made the NCAA Division II Tournament. He was an All-GAC Honorable Mention the prior year.
Parker graduated from Henderson State in 2020 with a degree in sports management. He added a master's degree in executive leadership (business) from Liberty in 2021.
In addition, Parker comes from a coaching background. His father, Charlie, spent nearly 50 years as a coach at the college, NBA, G League, overseas professional and international levels. That included serving as the head coach at Southern Cal from 1994-96, an assistant for the Dallas Mavericks from 1996-2005, an assistant for the New Orleans Hornets from 2006-10 and as the head coach of the Chinese Taipei national team from 2018-22, among other prominent roles.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men's basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
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