By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Parsons brings experience to Central Valley
Mike Parsons
Mike Parsons

When Scott Edwards found out Central Valley High School was looking to hire a P.E. teacher, he reached out to Mike Parsons.

Parsons, 48, got the job and will also fill the defensive-coordinator position on Edwards’ football coaching staff. “Mike had a couple opportunities but I got into his ear before he committed to either of them,” Edwards said. “I view it as an asset. I don’t view it as a threat. I wanted him to have a large role. That’s why he’s defensive coordinator. I’m keeping my players’ best interests at heart.”

“I’m a team guy,” Parsons said. “He needed help. It was a good fit. I’m not gunning for his job. Scott’s enjoying not worrying about the defense.”

Parsons accomplished a lot as a head coach at the prep level.

Modesto Christian amassed a 99-36 record, claimed one state championship, captured one section crown and won seven conference titles during Parsons’ 11-year stint.

He led Clovis West to a section title in 2010.

“He’s been very successful at different places, not just MC,” Edwards said. “The bottom line is he’s bringing a lot to the table. It’s great to have a guy that I can bounce thoughts and ideas off of. He has a calm and direct personality as a coach. He’s definitely intense. We’ll balance each other out.”

“We’re low-ego guys. We just want everything done the right way.”
Mike Parson

“We’re low-ego guys,” Parsons added. “We just want everything done the right way.”

Edwards and Parsons both followed similar athletic and career paths.

“We played against each other in JC ball,” Edwards said. “We went to small D-II schools. We coached against each other for the first time in 2006. We’ve had a relationship since then. There’s always been a mutual level of respect.”

“We’ve been doing this (coaching) a long time,” Parsons stated. “As you get older, you figure out what’s important; building players with character. The wins will come.”

“We got about 50 years of coaching between the two of us,” Edwards added.

Parsons was brought in to improve a defense that allowed 21 points per game a year ago.

Central Valley struggled to a 2-8 overall record in 2018.

“I have a group of guys that want to be successful,” Parsons said. “They have the potential to be very good.”

“The amount of energy has been a lot higher with him on staff,” Hawks’ senior lineman Thomas Carrillo said. “He demands a lot from us. He expects us to work really hard and fly to the ball every play.”

Parsons will begin his 24th season of coaching this Friday.

Central Valley will battle crosstown-rival Ceres High at Bulldog Stadium.

The Hawks’ Central California Conference schedule includes games against Merced, Atwater, Golden Valley, Patterson, Buhach Colony and El Capitan.

“It’s a tough league just like the Trans Valley League,” Parsons said.