Chris Parker
Athletic Director
cparker@ph.vccs.edu

Christopher Parker begins his fifth year as Athletic Director at Patrick Henry Community College.  During his first four years, the Patriots have made a smooth transition from club sports to intercollegiate athletics.  The athletic department has seen ample success on and off the field.  Under Coach Parkers leadership, this past year saw 63% of all sophomore athletes graduate with associate degrees, while the women’s basketball team competed for a national championship in Peoria, Illinois during their first year of intercollegiate competition.  In addition, the baseball team was ranked as high as number six in the country, while men’s basketball had a very successful season, and the softball team turned things completely around after their inaugural season. 

In addition to success on the playing field and in the classroom, Parker has helped improve and create new athletic facilities for the Patriot athletic teams.  In 2007, the Patriot Weight room began a makeover process to purchase new equipment, while repainting the walls and adding mirrors to help with workouts. In 2008, Collins Gymnasium was completely renovated with a new hardwood floor, replacement goals, and decorative signs and posters. In 2009, the Patriots began use of a local warehouse for indoor workouts for its baseball and softball teams.  Finally, in 2010, Martin field was completed, which serves home to the Lady Patriot Softball team.  In addition, numerous improvements have been completed to Hooker Field, which serves as home to the Martinsville Mustangs as well as the Patrick Henry Patriots Baseball team.

 Coach Parker is a 2005 graduate of Virginia Tech with a Bachelor’s Degree in the Science of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise with minors in Biology and Spanish.  He is also a 2006 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a Master’s Degree in the Sports Leadership.  He is currently pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership from Liberty University.  Parker competed athletically both for Hamden-Sydney College and Virginia Tech during his undergraduate years and served as a volunteer coach at VCU during his time spent there.

Parker also spent his first four years at PHCC as the head baseball coach, leading the Patriots to a 145-77 overall record, while seeing two players drafted and seven sign with D1 Universities. During these four years, the Patriots were ranked in the regular season top 15 poll every week, with sixth being their highest national ranking.

Parker knows how hard his whole staff works to see their individual teams succeed and this was a main reason for his stepping down from baseball.  “I want to have the opportunity and time to be a part of each team here on campus,” Parker Stated.  He also understands the importance of being able to extend the athletic and academic years of students who want to move on to four-year institutions. "Many young student-athletes will attend a two-year college in order to mature both physically and mentally, and that is what we are here to help them do," said Parker.  "As an athletic department we want to present a clear mission for each of our student-athletes to adhere to and understand."

Doug Gibson
Sports Information Director
phccsports@aol.com

Doug Gibson serves as the sports information contact for PHCC Athletics which currently includes men's and women's basketball, softball, and baseball. Gibson's main responsibility is the upkeep and maintenance of the Official Athletic website, www.phccsports.com. The 2010-2011 season will mark the sixth season that Gibson has worked with PHCC Athletics.

Gibson is a native of Clifton Forge, Virginia and is a 2001 graduate of Ferrum College with a Bachelors degree in Recreation & Leisure and a minor in business. Gibson has spent nine seasons working in Collegiate Summer Baseball with over 50 players advancing to professional baseball careers including two Major Leaguers.

Kenny Webster
PHCC Sports Photographer