Craig Parkinson Continues To Make History During His Global Journey

For those who don’t know, this is Coach Craig Parkinson. Coach Parkinson is no stranger to the coaching, and sports world. In 2008 he was inducted into the Iowa Football Coaches Hall of Fame. Not only is Coach Parkinson a hall of famer, but he’s a state champion, and coached over 650 varsity games for different sports teams. American football 330, Boys Basketball 235, Baseball 77, and hundreds of games as a JV coach starting in 1974.

In 2016 he visited his son in Łódź, Poland, and became the assistant football coach for the Wilki ( Wolves) Łódź for one season, then named head coach shortly after for 2 seasons.

I had the pleasure of speaking to Coach Parkinson about his overseas experience, and he stated, “Coaching in Poland was very interesting. I loved the guys who were playing for the love of the game. Lots of great experiences, and some problems. I had been retired for a few years, but quickly got up to speed, and was able to try some new things. Asst coaches were play/coaches who were part of the founders of the club. OK for practice, but not as good for the game as they were playing.“

“We ended up doing some very good things football wise, but the team was always short of money. Then we got moved up to top league. We were competitive before we moved up, but just out manned afterwards. I learned a lot, and was offered another job as head coach in another city, but unfortunately I had some health issues to take care of. In 2020 I became the first baseball coach in Lodz for a team named The Falcons of Lodz. I am very excited about it even at 68 years old!”

“A danger about coaching, and living in Poland is that I met, and fell in love with a beautiful Polish woman who is fantastic, and we got married. I have lots of Polish friends, and started teaching at one of the Universities. So now I have friends from over 50 countries. I love Poland, and have lived here since February 2017.”

It’s safe to say that Coach Parkinson is having the time of his life while continuing to be a legend in the making for global American imports. Even at the age of 68, Coach Parkinson shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.