General | 07/03/21 | 1:12 PM

HELENA, Mont. – The entire Carroll Athletics family is greatly saddened by the passing of Bruce Parker. Bruce served as the Director of Athletics at Carroll from 2003 to 2014 and was eventually enshrined in the NAIA and NACDA Hall of Fames. He was inducted into the Carroll Athletics Hall of Fame in the fall of 2019.
 
Bruce Parker is a legend, not only in the Carroll community, but also state and nationwide. He was selected as the NAIA Athletic Director of the year twice, and the Frontier Conference Athletic Director of the year nine times. Following his time at Carroll, he served as the Athletic Director at Rocky Mountain College, and most recently could be heard providing commentary on local sports broadcasts for SWX. Nobody was better than Bruce at promoting sports throughout Montana.
 
In his time at Carroll, he was fully committed to the growth of all of our athletic programs through community engagement, care and concern for the experience of the student-athletes, and raising the standards of competitive success throughout the department. He also grew the athletic department by adding new sports such as cross country, track and field, men's soccer, and softball.
 
Other notable accomplishments for Bruce Parker include the development of the corporate sponsorship program and the improvement of athletic facilities.
 
The Carroll Athletics family will miss Bruce greatly, but we are so thankful for everything that he provided to us and so many others. May he rest in peace. 
 
Below are some thoughts on Bruce from some of those who worked with him and knew him.
 
"Bruce was an iconic figure in Carroll College and Montana athletics and especially in the Frontier Conference.  During his time at Carroll College he was able to leverage the incredible success of our football program under Coach Mike Van Diest to receive national attention. He also brought the Frontier Conference to a national level of attention.  Bruce and Lisa have been tremendous members of our community and state.  On behalf of both the Frontier Conference and Carroll College I can say Bruce will be sorely missed in Montana however his legacy will live on for years!"
- Dr. John E. Cech, President of Carroll College and Chairman of the Frontier Conference Council of Presidents 
 
"Bruce served as a great mentor upon my arrival at Carroll while he was serving as the AD at Rocky. He was a great colleague in the frontier conference, and all of us who are currently involved in Carroll Athletics are indebted to all that he did for the Fighting Saints." 
- Charlie Gross, Carroll College Director of Athletics
 
"Bruce hired me at Carroll and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to come home. He brought me into the family that he created and we shared a lot of fun memories. He was a tremendous PR guy – he knew everybody – he had an amazing way of making you feel as if you were the most important person. He took time to get to know the student-athletes and challenged them both in and out of athletics. He's been a listening ear long after he left Carroll and I'll miss his advice. 
 
He and Lisa treated Cal and I and both of my kids as his own. They have been missed in Helena and he will most certainly be missed going forward.
 
But his legacy will live on. He is an icon in athletics both in and out of Montana. I'm fortunate to have known and worked with Bruce, and I'm blessed to call them both (he and his wife Lisa) friends. Lots of love and prayers to Lisa and their family. May he now be at peace and free of pain."
- Moe Boyle, Carroll College Head Volleyball Coach
 
"Bruce brought an edge to Carroll from being involved with athletics all his life. He always had his hands in athletics. What he really brought to Carroll College was an amazing media presence and he was able to earn national recognition not only for Carroll College but also for the Frontier Conference. Under Bruce, we were right there with Montana and Montana State under the national spotlight."
- Mike Van Diest, Carroll College Hall of Fame Football Coach