The thoughts and prayers of the North Florida Athletics community go out to the family, friends, colleagues, teammates and peers connected to Tim Parenton, who passed away yesterday October 30, 2023 at the age of 61, after over a four-year battle with cancer.

A funeral mass will be held in his hometown of New Orleans, La., with more details to be announced at a later date.

Tim Parenton, former head and assistant North Florida baseball coach and long-time collegiate and professional coach, touched the lives of everyone that he came in contact with over his life and career. Parenton impacted those around him with his thoughtfulness and generosity with his time, connecting with everyone throughout the department. An avid sports fan, Parenton kept up with everything New Orleans Saints, New Orleans Pelicans, Major League Baseball and college baseball.

His character and strength was evident as he missed just one game during his entire battle with cancer, spanning nearly five full seasons. This sentiment was expressed as over 200 hundred colleagues, former student-athletes, coaches and friends shared a moment with him and his wife, Shelia, outside of the UNF Arena this past September in a public gathering.

"We are devastated at the news of Coach Parenton's passing," Director of Athletics Nick Morrow said. "TP has impacted hundreds of student-athletes' lives during his four decades of coaching. He has left an incredible legacy due to his passion, kindness, and genuine care for others. TP has personally influenced my life and my career and I am forever grateful for him and will miss him dearly. Our thoughts and prayers are with Coach Parenton's wife, Shelia, and his family, during this difficult time."

Parenton earned over 200 wins as a head coach at the Division I level, tallying over 100 of those wins as the head coach at North Florida. From 2018-23, Parenton served as the Ospreys' head coach, bringing UNF to nine Power Five wins, four MLB draft picks, two All-Americans and four ASUN superlative honorees. He would also serve as an assistant coach in the UNF dugout from 2010-13. 

He would return to Jacksonville in 2018 after leading the Hudson Valley Renegades of the Tampa Rays organization, taking the Short Season-A team to the New York Penn League titles in 2014 and 2016.

His career in college athletics extended far beyond UNF and even past baseball. Parenton served as a graduate assistant football coach at his alma mater, Mississippi State, and also as an assistant director for athletic facilities and game management in Starkville. 

"The Osprey community is deeply saddened by the loss of Coach Parenton," said UNF President Moez Limayem. "His impact on our baseball program has been significant and there is no doubt that his legacy will live on through the many student-athletes who benefited from his guidance, wisdom and friendship."

The New Orleans, La., native was one of the most decorated athletes in the city, earning 11 letters at Jesuit High School as a baseball, basketball, football and track athlete. He was named the school's Athlete of the Decade in the 70s before going on to help the Bulldogs to multiple NCAA Baseball Regional appearances as an infielder, as well as appearances in the 1980 Sun Bowl and 1981 Hall of Fame Bowl as a quarterback. 

Parenton helped MSU to the 1997 College World Series as an assistant coach before going 188-97 at Old Dominion as an assistant coach, taking the Monarchs to two Colonial Athletic Conference titles. That success springboarded him to Samford University where he was named 2004 OVC Coach of the Year in his final year in Birmingham before joining the University of Florida staff from 2004-06.

A funeral mass will be held in New Orleans. More details are to follow.