2008-09 Men's Basketball

Birth Date: October 15, 1980

Birthplace: Linden, Tenn.

Education: Perry County High School (Tenn.); Tennessee Technological University ('03); Tennessee Technological University (MBA-'05).

Ryan Parnell will enter his fourth season as assistant coach for the Freed-Hardeman Lion basketball team. Parnell, a native of Linden, Tenn., came to FHU from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville. He is a 2003 graduate from Tennessee Tech with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Management with a concentration in Information Systems. In May of 2005, he received his MBA from TTU.

While at Tennessee Tech, Parnell was team manager for four years, the first three under Coach Jeff Lebo, now at Auburn University and the last under Coach Mike Sutton. During that time, the TTU Golden Eagles won three Ohio Valley Conference Championships. During the 2002 season, they advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT. In 2003, he took a graduate assistant position before being promoted to the Director of Basketball Operations one year later. As Director of Basketball Operations, his responsibilities included coordinating travel accommodations, film exchange, ordering and maintaining equipment, and hiring student managers. During this time, he also held the position of Assistant Camp Director where his responsibilities included scheduling camp games, workers, and facilities.

Parnell graduated from Perry County High School in 1999 where he was a student assistant/manager for Coach Bruce Slatten. While at PCHS, the team was state runner-up and also won a state championship title.

Parnell is married to Elizabeth (Regg) of Nashville, Tenn.