Scott Parr joined the Louisiana Tech football staff as the co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach for the Bulldogs in 2022.
In 2023, Parr oversaw the Bulldogs’ offense while serving as co-coordinator and tight end’s coach. As a team, the Bulldogs ranked fifth in the CUSA with 384.7 yards of total offense per game while ranking third in first downs gained with 243. The Bulldog offense was among the conference leaders in passing plays over 10 yards (2nd, 123), 20 yards (2nd, 46) and 30 yards (3rd, 22). The Bulldogs eclipsed 300 yards passing four times during the 2023 season, highlighted by a 419-yard passing performance against Sam Houston. On the ground the Bulldogs rushed for over 100 yards seven times, highlighted by a 357-yard outburst in a win over Northwestern State.
Parr’s tight ends played a crucial role in the Bulldogs’ offense. Senior Ryan Rivera hauled in 13 receptions for 174 yards for an average of 13.4 yards a catch. While pass blocking Rivera allowed no sacks and just one pressure in 40 snaps.
With Parr at the controls as a co-coordinator in 2022, The Bulldogs’ offense accumulated 392 yards per game while ranking 32nd nationally and fourth in Conference USA in passing offense, accumulating 267.2 yards a contest through the air. While passing LA Tech ranked fourth nationally in scrimmage plays over 60 yards (5), sixth in scrimmage plays over 50 yards (8) and eighth in scrimmage plays over 40 yards (15). On the ground Tech topped the century mark in rushing in eight of it’s 12 games including a season-high 300 yard performance in a 52-17 win over Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 10. The 300 yards were the most in a single game by a Tech squad since 2019.
Parr’s tight ends excelled under his guidance. Senior Griffin Hebert tallied 23 receptions for 431 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 47.9 receiving yards per game and recording multiple receptions in five games. In Parr’s scheme Hebert tallied a career-high 122 yards receiving on five receptions at Clemson which were the most by a non-conference visiting player at Clemson since 2018.
On the recruiting trail, Parr was part of helping build the Bulldogs' 21-member signing class which was the highest-rated class in Conference USA and ranked fifth among all Group of Five schools. Tech ranked 70th nationally in the Rivals 2023 Team Recruiting Rankings, edging out its 2020 signing class by a spot for the best slot in program history. Young helped sign five offensive linemen in the class.
Parr came to Ruston after spending the past three seasons as the head coach at Navarro College where he led the program to a conference title while earning the Conference Coach of the Year award.
“Scott Parr has orchestrated high-powered offenses his entire career,” said Cumbie. “His passion for kids and offensive football is unmatched. The son of a legendary high school coach, football is in his blood. We look forward to having Scott and his family at Louisiana Tech for many successful seasons.”
Parr has more than 20 years coaching on the collegiate level, including 10 as offensive coordinator developing offenses that routinely averaged more than 40 points, 500 yards, and 345 passing yards per game.
In addition to his time as head coach at Navarro, Parr has also coached at Eastern Illinois (2018: Offensive Coordinator), Navarro (2015-17: Offensive Coordinator), Texas Tech (2010-13: Offensive Senior Analyst), West Texas A&M (2006-09: Offensive Coordinator), Tarleton State (2005: Receivers), Baylor (2003-04: Graduate Assistant), Abilene Christian (2000-02: Receivers, Special Teams) and Sam Houston (1998-99: Running backs).
“I am grateful to have the opportunity to work for Louisiana Tech and Sonny Cumbie,” said Parr. “The sky is the limit at Louisiana Tech. Sonny Cumbie is passionate, a players’ coach, and has high integrity. I look forward to striving to become the best Group of 5 football program in the nation. LA Tech and Sonny Cumbie provide those ingredients.”
During the past three years at Navarro, the Plainview, Texas, native led the program to the 2019 Southwest Junior College Conference Championship while earning the SWJCFC Coach of the Year award. The team finished among the nation’s top eight teams statistically in 11 categories, including first in total offense (5.415), passing yardage (4,037), per-game yardage (492.3) and touchdown passes (34).
While serving as the OC at Navarro, the program’s offensive units ranked among the NJCAA’s Top 10 in yardage and scoring (2015-17). Navarro quarterbacks led the NJCAA in passing and per game average four years.
In 2018 at EIU, Parr’s offense ranked 22nd in FCS total and ninth in passing as the Panthers had five 500-yard-plus total offense performances and six 40-plus point efforts. Parr’s influence resulted in the fifth-best passing yardage season in EIU history.
Impressive offensive numbers aren’t new to Parr whose family has deep Texas Panhandle high school football coaching roots. His father, Steve, was a head coach for a combined 31 years at Slaton, Plainview and Amarillo Palo Duro High Schools. His brother, Seth, has been a head coach 12 years – first, at Amarillo Caprock, and, most recently, at Lubbock Coronado.
As Texas Tech’s offensive quality control coach, Parr helped coach Tommy Tuberville’s Red Raiders gain NCAA Top 15 ranks in total offense three seasons with bowl appearances in 2010 and 2012. Before that, he served four years as offensive coordinator at West Texas A&M (2006-09) when the Buffaloes broke 64 school and Lone Star Conference records. His offense was ranked in Division II Top 10 in scoring, passing and total offense for three seasons (2007-09).
Scott and his wife, Kyla, have three children: Berkeley (15), Nash (12) and Knox (12).
