Kansas Wesleyan football coach Matt Middleton went back to the future to fill two key staff positions.
Robert "Boomer" Cunningham is the Coyotes' new offensive coordinator and assistant head coach, and Greg Parker is the new defensive coordinator.
Middleton, who was named KWU's coach on Nov. 25, previously worked with Cunningham while they were together at Division I Central Arkansas. Middleton and Parker were on the same staff at Division II Southern Arkansas.
Cunningham comes to Salina after three seasons as running backs and tight ends coach at Division II Delta State (Miss.). Before going to DSU, he was offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for seven years at Southern Arkansas, spent one season as offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at LaGrange (Georgia), and was assistant offensive line and offensive quality control coach at Central Arkansas for six years.
"Here's the thing about Boomer - he's super smart and impressive," Middleton said. "He's going to help me with a lot of the head coaching duties, but more importantly, it's knowing who he is as a person and a man and the character he has. And obviously, his background and success at winning at a high level. It's his trust factor, so when I'm having to handle head coaching duties, he knows what I expect and will be able to run with it.
"Not only were we together, but we've worked for some of the same people. I think that our vision and our background align with what we want to do offensively."
Cunningham, who played one season at Missouri Southern and three at Central Arkansas, said he is eager and ready to be a coordinator.
"Who I've worked for has helped me grow as a coach throughout my 15 years," he said. "Obviously, the O-line, that's the big part. That's where it starts, first and foremost. A play doesn't start without a center snapping the football.
"It's definitely taking bits and pieces from everywhere I've been. Now that I've gotten a little bit older and more comfortable with the offenses - whether it's running backs, tight ends, offensive line - having the opportunity to be a coordinator is a big step for me and my career."
Cunningham said KWU's offense will be a work in progress during the spring semester.
"Coach Middleton and I haven't really sat down and talked to a great extent," he said. "We have an idea of what we want to be - up-tempo, no huddle. That's kind of what we're heading toward."
Parker spent this fall as defensive line coach at Thomas (Florida), just its second season of football after starting the program in 2023. He was defensive line and outside linebackers coach at Division I Bucknell for two years before going to Thomas and also coached at Division I Arkansas State, Division II Black Hills State (South Dakota) and Southern Arkansas.
Parker had a long and distinguished military career before becoming a coach. He enlisted in the Marines in 1992 and was deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, receiving numerous service awards from the Navy and Marines in the process.
During his 20-year career Parker also served as a drill instructor at Parris Island, S.C., and California-Berkeley. He retired as a master sergeant.
"Greg brings a wealth of experience, obviously, from leading units and teams from his time in the military," Middleton said. "The thing that I get with him is super high energy and a passion for kids, passion for people. You'll be able to find him real quick from the energy that he brings to practice every day, just his tenacity and how he carries himself and his very disciplined approach to doing things."
Middleton said KWU's defense will reflect Parker's passion.
"One thing is for sure, all these players will be flying to the football to emulate his personality," he said.
Parker said the decision to join Middleton's staff was easy.
"I would have gone as a position coach," he said. "There are a lot of coaches in this business, but there are not a lot of really good people who coach football. He's a really good person who coaches football."
Parker said his military background has served him well as a coach.
"They're very closely related in that whatever you train for, you do a lot of things that are repetitive and redundant, and you become really good at the little things," he said. "I think if you do that, you're able to adjust to the bigger things."
Parker said he is driven by three principles.
"I inspire, encourage and motivate. I want my mannerisms, I want my demeanor, I want my voice to inspire and encourage and motivate. I'm responsible for putting those young guys in a position to win. As long as I can put them in a position to win, it builds their confidence," he said.
"They're going to make mistakes; I'm going to make mistakes. It's just part of who we are as people. But we can recover from mistakes by encouraging each other and inspiring and motivating each other to just want to do better."
Parker said his defenses won't hold back.