Phil Parker is in his 12th season as defensive backs coach at the University of Iowa.

Iowa concluded the 2009 season with a 24-14 win in the 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl and a national ranking of seventh in the nation. The Hawkeyes have been bowl eligible in each of the last nine seasons and have ranked in the final top 10 of both major polls four times in the past eight seasons.

The Hawkeyes have played in eight bowl games since 2001, including six appearances in January bowl games. Iowa has won five bowl games since 2001, including four January bowl victories. The January Bowl wins have come over Florida (2004 Outback), LSU (2005 Capital One), South Carolina (2009 Outback) and Georgia Tech (2010 Orange).

The Hawkeyes have won 70 games over the past eight seasons, including 42 Big Ten games. The Hawkeyes earned a share of the Big Ten title in both 2002 and 2004 and tied for second a year ago. Iowa has finished in the Big Ten's first division in eight of the past nine years.

The play of Iowa's defensive secondary played a key role in Iowa's success in 2009. Iowa ranked third in the nation in pass efficiency defense and fourth in pass defense while leading the Big Ten in both categories. The Hawkeyes tied for fifth nationally with 21 interceptions while ranking eighth in scoring defense and 10th in total defense. Safety Tyler Sash and cornerback Amari Spievey both earned first team all-Big Ten recognition, while safety Brett Greenwood was a second team selection. Spievey declared for the NFL draft following his junior season in 2009 and was selected in the third round by the Detroit Lions.

In 2008, Iowa ranked fourth in the nation while tying a school record with 23 interceptions. The Hawkeyes led the Big Ten and ranked fifth nationally in pass efficiency defense (98.3) and scoring defense (13.0). Spievey earned second team all-conference honors, while Bradley Fletcher and Brent Greenwood claimed honorable mention recognition.

Fletcher enjoyed an outstanding senior season in 2008, starting all 13 games. He was selected by St. Louis in the third round of the 2009 NFL draft.

Under Parker's direction, safety Bob Sanders became the ninth Iowa player to earn first team all-Big Ten honors for three seasons (2001, 2002, and 2003). Sanders earned second team all-America honors in 2003 and was taken by Indianapolis in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He ranks seventh in career tackles (348). Sanders earned all-Pro recognition with the Colts in 2005 and was selected to the Pro Bowl. He was a key contributor again in 2006 as the Colts won the Super Bowl. He was named the NFL's defensive Player of the Year in 2007 and was again an all-Pro selection.

Senior cornerback Charles Godfrey led the Iowa secondary in 2007, recording five interceptions and 65 tackles. He earned second team all-Big Ten honors. Godfrey was selected in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft, being selected by the Carolina Panthers as the 67th pick in the draft. He started all 16 games and recorded 61 tackles in his rookie season.

In 2006, senior safeties Marcus Paschal and Miguel Merrick combined for 149 tackles to lead the Hawkeye secondary. Paschal was a second team all-Big Ten selection and signed a free agent contract with Philadelphia. Merrick signed a free agent contract with San Diego.

In 2005 senior cornerback Antwan Allen was the only player in the nation to start in four straight January bowl games. He ended his career with 235 tackles and eight interceptions. Jovon Johnson, at the opposite corner, also started throughout his career. He ranks third in career interceptions with 17 and had 181 career tackles. Johnson continued his career in the NFL, playing with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets.

Safeties Derek Pagel and Sean Considine joined the Iowa program as walk-ons and earned their way into the starting line-up. Each helped the Hawkeyes win a Big Ten title as seniors and both were NFL draft selections. Pagel earned second team all-Big Ten honors in 2002 was selected in the fifth round of the 2003 draft. Considine was a fourth round selection in 2005 after earning honorable mention all-Big Ten recognition.

In 1999, Iowa's secondary was led by the play of safety Matt Bowen. Bowen led the team in tackles (109) as both a junior and senior. He was voted second team all-Big Ten and was a sixth round selection of the St. Louis Rams in the NFL Draft. Bowen played several seasons in the NFL (Washington and Buffalo) following his college career.

Parker was the defensive backfield coach at Toledo for 11 seasons prior to joining the Iowa staff. During his tenure at Toledo, Parker coached 10 all-conference selections and helped the Rockets win conference division championships in 1997 and 1998. Three of his Toledo players, Darren Anderson, Clarence Love and Kelly Herndon, went on to play in the NFL. Anderson and Love were NFL draft selections, while Herndon signed as a free agent and played in the 2006 Super Bowl with Seattle. In 1998, Toledo ranked 19th in the nation in scoring defense.

Toledo won Mid-American Conference championships in 1990 and 1995 and competed in the 1995 Las Vegas Bowl. Toledo ranked 12th in the nation in total defense in 1990 and ninth in pass efficiency defense and 11th in rushing defense in 1992. In 1995 Toledo completed an undefeated season and was ranked 22nd in the final UPI poll and 24th in the CNN poll after leading the nation in turnover margin. Toledo also finished second to perennial power Marshall twice when Parker was a member of the Rocket staff.

Parker served as a graduate assistant coach for one year at Michigan State. Parker was on the Spartan staff in 1987 when MSU won the Big Ten title and defeated Southern California in the 1988 Rose Bowl.

Phil was a standout defensive back at Michigan State, earning first team all-Big Ten honors in 1983, 1984 and 1985. Parker was named defensive MVP at Michigan State in 1983 and 1985 and was invited to the Hula Bowl following his senior season. During his MSU career the Spartans competed in the 1984 Cherry Bowl and the 1985 All-American Bowl. Parker was named Most Valuable Player in the Cherry Bowl.

Parker earned his B.S. degree from Michigan State in 1986.

Parker was born March 13, 1963 in Lorain, OH. Phil and his wife, Sandy, have two children, Tyler and Paige.

Parker's Coaching Career
Iowa            DB, 1999-present
Toledo          DB, 1988-98
Michigan State  GA, 1987

"As a player in the Big Ten Conference, I always respected competing against the University of Iowa. I appreciated the way Iowa always played football, with toughness and class. With that appreciation, I am honored to be a part of the coaching staff here and a member of the University of Iowa community.

I feel very fortunate to be associated with Coach Kirk Ferentz and the staff of coaches he has assembled. Not only do I feel part of an excellent coaching staff, I know I work each day with a group of coaches who possess the best qualities possible for assisting student-athletes through their careers at the University of Iowa.

Kinnick Stadium and football weekends at the University of Iowa are something special to all Iowa fans and offer a great advantage for our football program. It is the true and loyal support from Hawkeye fans, in the community, in the state and around the country, that absolutely makes the University of Iowa so special."