As his collegiate playing career progressed at Averett, Parsons continued on the academic path to coaching. He took his first step toward a coaching career by interning with the football program in the spring of 2007.
“They helped me out a ton,” Parsons said of then-head coach Mike Dunleavy and his staff. “There wasn’t any job they wouldn’t let me do. They had me on the phone with recruits, helping out with the spring practice and helping out with recruiting visits. I put together a resume.”
Parsons also gained valuable knowledge in the classroom.
“The direction I took academically there with the physical education with the minor in coaching was really unique,” he said. “I thought the professors down there — Barbara Kushubar, Dr. Tommy Foster, Dr. Richard Ferguson — they were great and kept my interest in it and I wanted to do more and more.”
Following graduating from Averett, Parsons began his coaching journey. He was a graduate assistant at McDaniel College from 2007-10 while earning his master’s degree in athletic administration. He then worked his way to offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Salve Regina University from 2010-13. After a year at Assumpton College, he was named the passing game coordinator at Division I Brown University, where he stayed until 2017. Following a one-year stint at Bentley University as offensive coordinator, he found his current home at Endicott College, where he has served as offensive coordinator since 2019.
When Parsons received the call that he would be a part of the Hall of Fame, he was ecstatic to be considered.
“I know there have been some really good ones that have come through there,” he said. “I think it’s more rewarding looking at it football-specific looking at the guys who are in there. A lot of them are teammates. That makes it even better. Maybe someone looks at it one day and says, ‘Man, these teams from 2003-06 must have been decent.’”
A mobile quarterback who could also throw at a high efficiency, Parsons finished his career with the program record for total offensive yards in a career with 4,848 yards and 42 passing touchdowns. He still owns those marks and ranks among the top three in many passing categories.
“Todd Parsons was successful at the quarterback position for three reasons,” said J.D. Shaw, former Averett offensive coordinator who coached Parsons. “First he was very detailed in his preparation. He studied our opponents but he also studied himself. Second, he was a tremendous talent. He could run and throw as well as a lot of Division I guys I've seen. And last, he loved to compete. He never shrank from a challenge. He had the ability to overcome just about anything. I loved coaching him.”