Centennial's Ron Parker hanging up the coaching whistle

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — After seven seasons as the head coach and 31 years of coaching overall, Ron Parker is hanging up the whistle.

Yesterday, Parker announced he was stepping down at Centennial, the TC Palm in Stuart reported.

Parker became head coach at the school back in 2010 after Jim O’Neal left to return to Chiefland where had come from in 1998 to help launch the football program as the school was opening.

The change marks the 24th head coaching on The Original Coaches Moving Van™ for 2017.

Parker told the TC Palm that the grind was getting too long for him.

After 31 years the grind was getting too long and I was losing the drive. You have winter, spring, spring practice, summer, summer camps, fall, fall two-a-days. I lost a little when (son and former Centennial linebacker/defensive back) Aaron left and that was probably the most enjoyable time as a coach. All the other 27 years I was coaching someone else’s kids, and the feeling that I wanted to win more than the kids was a factor.Ron Parker to the TC Palm

Parker finishes with a 20-45 record, including winning a district championship in 2011 after stunning Vero Beach in the regular season to capture the title.

Centennial intends on posting the opening on the FHSAA website but is no rush to make a hire, according to Centennial athletic director, Steve Ripley.