Matt Parker joined the Little Rock baseball staff in the summer of 2024, and the Trojans reached new heights during the spring of 2025. Little Rock captured the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship to earn the program’s second NCAA Regional appearance and was placed in the Baton Rouge Regional.
The Trojans finished runner-up in the regional after a 3–2 showing, pushing eventual national champion LSU to a decisive Game 7. The three victories marked the first NCAA Regional wins in program history. Angel Cano was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Regional, while three additional Trojans earned spots on the All-Tournament Team.
Prior to arriving in Little Rock, Parker spent two seasons as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi.
Before his time with the Islanders, Parker served as a collegiate head coach for 11 seasons at Oklahoma Wesleyan and Eastern Oklahoma State College. Across those stops, he never recorded a losing season and compiled a career head coaching record of 467–152 (.754 winning percentage), including eight 40-win seasons and four 50-win campaigns. His teams won six conference championships and five conference postseason tournament titles, and Parker was named Coach of the Year five times.
At Eastern Oklahoma State, Parker served four years as Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach, posting a 142–39 record. His teams captured two NJCAA Region II Tournament Championships and two regular-season titles in 2021 and 2022. Emphasizing student-athlete development, one player was selected directly in the MLB Draft from EOSC, eight others were drafted later in their careers, 19 advanced to Division I programs, three earned NJCAA All-America honors, and 22 received All-Region recognition. Parker was named NJCAA Region Coach of the Year in both 2021 and 2022.
Parker previously spent seven seasons as head baseball coach and assistant athletic director at Oklahoma Wesleyan, where he guided the Eagles to four regular-season conference championships, three conference tournament titles, and two NAIA World Series appearances (2014 and 2017). He was named conference Coach of the Year in 2012, 2014, 2017, and 2018, and earned ABCA/Diamond Sports Company Region Coach of the Year honors in 2014 and 2017. Oklahoma Wesleyan compiled a 325–113 record during his tenure. Parker coached 68 All-Conference performers, 19 Conference Gold Glove winners, two NAIA National Players of the Year, an ABCA National Player of the Year, an NCCAA National Player of the Year, an NCCAA National Pitcher of the Year, and a Rawlings National Gold Glove recipient.
Parker’s first opportunity as a recruiting coordinator came at California Baptist University, where he spent three seasons and helped lead the Lancers to an NAIA World Series appearance in 2010. During that span, CBU won Golden State Athletic Conference championships in 2010 and 2011, while Parker coached eight All-Americans and five MLB Draft selections.
Early in his career, Parker served two seasons as an assistant coach at Garden City (Kan.) Community College, helping lead the Broncbusters to the Region VI championship game while also working as an associate scout for the San Francisco Giants. He also spent the 2005–06 season as an assistant coach at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
A Cum Laude graduate of Lyon College, Parker earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration before completing his master’s degree in sports administration at Henderson State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude in May 2007.
Parker and his wife, Lindsey, are the parents of twins Charleigh and Cortland.
