Nolan Parks began his role as Associate Director of Athletic Development at UC Merced in June 2025.
“I’m honored to join Bobcat Athletics and the UC Merced Philanthropy and Strategic Partnerships team at such an exciting time. With our recent elevation to NCAA Division II and membership in the prestigious California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), there is great energy on campus and in the community. This new chapter brings tremendous momentum, and I’m eager to help elevate the scholar-athlete experience as we continue to grow. I look forward to building strong relationships with our alumni, donors, fans, and the entire Bobcat community.”
Before arriving at UC Merced, Parks served in the Advancement office at Briar Cliff University, a private NAIA institution. There, he led the annual giving program, managed alumni engagement events, solicited major gifts, and tailored business sponsorships for athletics. He also contributed to institutional growth by serving on various committees tied to strategic planning, homecoming, presidential inauguration, a comprehensive fundraising campaign, and initiatives for student outreach and retention.
Parks’ background in collegiate athletics includes coaching baseball at the NCAA Division II and Division III levels. His responsibilities included leading offensive strategy, position-specific instruction, recruitment, and overseeing summer ball placement and camp programming.
A former collegiate student-athlete himself, Parks played baseball in the California Community College system before finishing his career at the University of Jamestown, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in History in 2015. He later earned a Master of Science in Education in Sports Performance and Leadership from Northern State University in 2018.
A native of Turlock, Parks now resides there with his wife, Gabrielle, and their two children.
