JaQuon Parker Promoted To Full Time Cincinnati Bearcats Assistant Coach

Former Cincinnati Bearcats guard JaQuon Parker has accepted a promotion to become a full time member of the UC men’s basketball coaching staff as an assistant. His official role is “Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Development”.

For the past year or so Parker has contributed to the Bearcats basketball program, one in which he helped shape as a player, as a graduate assistant essentially working for pennies. He supported the coaches in preparing the team during practices, before games, and worked with the players on the bench. It wasn’t a heralded job but one that was critical to Cincinnati’s AAC Championship run last season and his development as a coach.

Quite honestly I can’t think of another role that better suits Parker’s skill set. Even as a player he showed signs of leadership few display at his age. Parker rode the bench during his first two eligible seasons at Cincinnati but was constantly the player giving his teammates around him the verbal lift they needed. His influence on others was elevated when he saw consistent minutes as a junior and senior, the latter season was one where Parker really shined.

Now the former UC player is being rewarded for his loyalty and hard work for Mick Cronin over the years and I couldn’t be happier for him. Hopefully this will be yet another step on the path to a head coaching position at a major program sometime down the road.