Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker updates his injury and talks about his defense
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – As a three-time All-Big Ten safety for Michigan State in the 1980s, Phil Parker was known for his bone-jarring hits and aggressive playing style.
He often sacrificed his body for the good of his team, but oddly enough, he never suffered a serious injury that would require surgery until late in his coaching career.
Parker, who has served as Iowa’s defensive coordinator since 2012, and has been on Kirk Ferentz’s staff since 1999, was recently injured in practice in what could be described as sort of a freak accident.
“Somebody bumped into me, and I caught it at a bad angle and it just kind of ripped off the rotator cuff and tore the labrum and bicep,” Parker said Tuesday after practice. “No big deal.”
The injury required surgery and prevented Parker from attending Iowa’s annual media day event on Aug. 9, so he was made available to the media for about 15 minutes on Tuesday.
Parker had his arm in a sling during practice, but then removed it before being interviewed.
Parker addressed multiple topics including whether the injury will cause him to start coaching from the press box instead of from the sideline.
“It’s hard for me to be up in the box,” Parker said. “I like being down with my players so you can look in their eyes and see what they’re thinking and understand, are they okay and understand what we’re doing and stuff like that.”
Parker said he will pay closer attention while coaching from the sideline, especially at Kinnick Stadium where there isn’t much room to maneuver on the sideline.
“We’ve got such a short sideline on our side,” Parker said. “You just have to be careful. I’ve been doing it for a long time. Fist time I’ve ever had to have surgery.”
Parker said his arm will be in a sling for about six weeks, or maybe not.
“But we’ll negotiate that,” he said.
As for the health of his players, Parker said defensive backs Xavier Nwankpa and Koen Entringer both are making progress.
He said Nwankpa should be back in the next couple days, while Entringer is practicing again, but that the coaching staff is limiting some of his reps.
Nwankpa, a former five-star recruit from Southeast Polk, started 12 games last season at strong safety and has 54 career tackles and two interceptions, including a pick six against Kentucky in the 2023 Music City Bowl.
Entringer, a sophomore from Ypsilanti, Michigan, has played mostly on special teams and has nine career tackles.
His most memorable tackle came in the 2023 Big Ten championship game against Michigan when Entringer ran almost the length of the field before pushing Michigan punt returner Semaj Morgan out of bounds to save a touchdown.
Entringer had a chance to tackle Morgan right after Morgan caught the punt, but Entringer missed the tackle and then fell to the turf.
But instead of giving up on the play, Entringer quickly stood up and then sprinted past multiple players on both teams as he pursued Morgan.
The play became a big hit on social media as Entringer was praised for his effort, determination and speed.
Parker said he expects Nwankpa and Entringer both to be ready for the season opener against Illinois State on Aug. 31 at Kinnick Stadium.
“Right now, I think everybody on our back end should be available,” Parker said of the defensive backs.