After graduating from Davidson in 1938, Parker took over the head coaching post for the wrestling team and except for a five-year break with the U.S. Army Air Corp in World War II, spent four decades as the Wildcats' wrestling coach. He recorded 104 wins during his career, the top mark of any Davidson coach, and also holds the school record for matches coached.
He served in several national amateur wrestling associations, including the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Committee (1959-1960) and the National AAU Committee. One of the highlights of his career was in 1963 when he coached the U.S. wrestling team in the Pan-American games in Brazil.
Parker, who died in 1979 following a lengthy illness, edited the NCAA Wrestling Guide and was secretary-treasurer of the Carolina Wrestling Officials Association. He was a certified international wrestling official and a charter member of the National Athletic Trainers Association.
Several areas in the Baker Sports Complex on the Davidson Campus are testimony to the impact Charlie Parker had on wrestling at Davidson College. The Charles W. Parker Wrestling Room and the Wildcats' dressing room were both given in his honor by former Davidson wrestlers.
“Charlie Parker is truly a legend in Davidson wrestling,” said current Wildcat head coach Bob Patnesky. “He paved the way for many successful people not only in wrestling but in life, and his legacy will live on for a long time.”
Parker was inducted into the Davidson Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992, becoming the first honoree to be selected from the wrestling program. He is also the first Davidson representative to earn a place in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Other inductees into the Hall of Fame this year are Dr. Jerry Barker from N.C. State University, former Brevard High School head coach Rex Wells, Davie County High School head coach Buddy Lowery, current Treasurer of the North Carolina chapter of USA Wrestling Lorenzo Carmon and U.S. Amputee Athletic Association Founder and President of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Dick Bryant, who received the Medal of Courage Award.
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