Willamette abruptly dismisses Isaac Parker as Football Coach

Parker was suddenly without a job after opening week’s win vs. LaVerne

Isaac Parker is out as head football coach at Willamette University after 3 seasons. Photo courtesy of WU Athletics.

With no comment on any reasons for the action, administrative officials at Willamette University announced last week that head football coach Isaac Parker had been let go as the Bearcats’ football chief.

Parker had been head football coach at the Salem school since 2019.  He previously had been an assistant coach at rival Lewis and Clark College in Portland—where he served on the Pioneer coaching staff from 2015 until being hired by the Bearcats.  Before that, Parker had been head football coach at McNary High School in Keizer for three seasons.

Parker has had no public comment on the decision to let him go.  WU Administrators themselves have announced no plans to explain their decision, only saying Parker was let go at Willamette.

Parker guided the Bearcat football program during some of the toughest years in school history.  In his first season in 2019, Willamette finished 2-8.  There were no games played in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The squad went 1-9 in 2021, and 2-8 last season. 

The Bearcats were celebrating their opening game victory on September 2^nd over LaVerne (California) by a 24-21 score.  Parker was informed of his dismissal on Labor Day, upon his return from California. Willamette lost this last weekend in a 38-7 blowout at Lewis and Clark.

Former assistant Tim Rude was tabbed to take over as Bearcat head coach. The team plays the third of four straight road games on September 16^th in Ashland against Southern Oregon University.