UCONN L, 5-11

first team honorees representing the Ospreys, as senior second baseman Jay Prather had a breakout year to help him land on the first team. Senior righty Nick Marchese went 7-0 and junior designated hitter was fourth in the league in hitting as they landed on the ASUN Second Team. Parenton guided UNF to a 23-11 record at home and a 3-1 mark against SEC opponents. UNF opened the year by hosting Missouri, taking twoof-three games. The Tigers would go on to finish 34-22-1, proving to be a stingy SEC opponent after taking two of three against No. 20 Ole Miss, Kentucky and No. 8 LSU. Missouri would also sweep South Carolina in late April. The Ospreys kept the foot on the gas following the season-opening weekend, downing No. 3/5 Florida February 20, 7-1. It was the second-highest ranked opponent that the Ospreys defeated in its DI days after doubling-up No. 1 UF, 10-5, in 2012 when Parenton was an assistant coach at North Florida. UNF earned wins in both games against 2019 Conference USA Champion, FAU. The Ospreys defeated the Owls on back-to-back days, 7-5 and 9-8. North Florida would finish the season as the number-five seed in the conference, going 16-8 against in-state opponents.

2018

In his first season with the Ospreys, Parenton led the Ospreys to a 2828 record as UNF made it all the way to the ASUN Finals before falling to top seed Stetson. North Florida had three players make the first team all-conference (Tanner Murphy, Blake Voyles and Frank German). UNF defended it home turf with it's fourth straight 20 win season at Harmon Stadium. Parenton also had three pitchers of the week (German x2 and Brad Deppermann) while Chris Berry earned hitter of the week honors as well. The Ospreys did make some history during Parenton's first year as they swept FGCU in Fort Myers for the first time in school history in a series that dates back to 2008.

In Minor League Ball

Parenton, who served as an assistant coach at North Florida from 2010-13, returned to the Ospreys following a three-year stint as the manager of the Hudson Valley Renegades, the Short Season-A team affiliate in the New York Penn League for the Tampa Bay Rays. As the manager for the Renegades, Parenton guided the squad to a pair of Division titles in 2014 and 2016, while finishing runner-up in the Penn League last summer. In addition, he also coordinated the Rays’ extended spring training program in Port Charlotte, Fla. Parenton was named the 2004 OVC Coach of the Year and also led the Bulldogs to conference tournament appearances in both the OVC (2004) and ASUN (2002). He oversaw a $1,000,000 renovation project at Samford for the baseball stadium and had over a 90 percent graduation rate with 51 academic all-conference honorees during his seven-year tenure.

First Stint at UNF

During his first stint at UNF, Parenton helped recruit and develop several standout performers including Alex Bacon, Shane Kennedy and Tyler Moore, who all garnered Freshman AllAmerican honors and ASUN AllFreshman accolades. Bacon also earned the ASUN Freshman of the Year award. The Ospreys also enjoyed other milestones with Parenton on staff including a 10-5 victory over No. 1-ranked Florida in 2012 and a No. 23 ranking in the College Baseball Daily Mid-Major Top 25 poll. Prior to his first stint with the Ospreys, Parenton spent three seasons as the head coach Jesuit High School in New Orleans (2007-09), his prep alma mater. He guided the Blue Jays to three consecutive state tournament appearances and a pair of American Legion playoff runs. His coaching ledger with Jesuit featured a runner-up and two quarterfinal finishes in the state tournament while also collecting an American Legion state championship.

At the University of Florida

Parenton took the break from college baseball following a threeyear tenure as an assistant coach at the University of Florida from 2004-2006. During his time at UF, the Gators claimed the 2005 SEC title and also advanced to the College World Series, finishing second in the nation. As the club’s hitting coach, he oversaw an offense that finished among the program’s top all-time leaders in total bases, hits, runs, RBIs, walks and home runs. Florida made two NCAA Regional and Super Regional appearances during his time in Gainesville.

Sun Belt, Colonial and SEC

Before taking over his own program, Parenton also worked two successful seasons at Mississippi State (1996-97), helping lead MSU to a pair of NCAA Regional berths along with a trip to the 1997 College World Series. He began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant coach at Old Dominon (199095), where he was part of a 18897 record in five seasons. ODU snared a back-to-back Colonial Athletic Conference crowns in 1994 and 1995 while advancing to NCAA Regional play. He was also part of an ODU runner-up finish in the Sun Belt Conference (1991).

Personal and Playing Experience

Along with his extensive coaching career, Parenton was a two-sport letterwinner in football and baseball at Mississippi State University. He helped the Bulldogs to the 1980 Sun Bowl and 1981 Hall of Fame Bowl as a quarterback while earning a pair of NCAA Regional baseball appearances as an infielder on the diamond. Parenton later spent three years at MSU serving as a graduate assistant football coach and two seasons as assistant director for athletic facilities and game management.

A native of New Orleans, Parenton starred at Jesuit High School, where he earned 11 letters in baseball, basketball, football and track. He was chosen the school’s Athlete of the Decade for the 1970s.

Parenton earned his bachelor's degree from Mississippi State in 1989 and is married to the former Sheila Cummins of Kosciusko, Miss.