UpdatedWed, May 5, 2021 at 1:30 pm ET
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Longtime Springfield College wrestling coach Doug Parker. (Springfield College)
SPRINGFIELD, MA Doug Parker, a World War II U.S. Army veteran who coached wrestling at Springfield College for 35 years and was the father of longtime Enfield High School wrestling coach Kirk Parker, died April 24. He was 95.
From 1955 to 1990, Parker compiled a career record of 518-169-11, a .750 winning percentage. His teams never had a losing season, and he was named New England Coach of the Year three times. Springfield won 21 New England titles and produced 24 All-Americans, including 1984 Olympic gold medalist Jeff Blatnick.
Parker was a member of the NCAA Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame. In 1999, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum awarded him the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award in recognition of his years of dedication to the development of leadership and citizenship in young people through the sport of wrestling.