University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Q&A With Parker Fox
1/25/2022 9:29:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Parker Fox joined the Gopher program in April of last year after a three-year stint at Northern State. He ended his career as the NSIC North Division Defensive Player of the Year, Player of the Year, and a first team all-conference honoree. He was named to the NABC and D2CCA All-America teams…in 2020-21, and ended his Northern State career averaging 16.9 points and 7.7 rebounds in 26.2 minutes of action. Following his commitment to Minnesota, Fox unfortunately tore his ACL. However, now on the mend, the Mahtomedi, Minn., native still provides great contribution off the court.
After Northern State, you were recruited by a lot of schools, but why specifically was it about Minnesota that made you decide to come here?
The main reason why I coach Minnesota was the strong connection I developed with Coach Johnson, Coach Thorson, Coach Kemp and Coach Jenkins. They were reaching out to me every single day and keeping up to date with me. Another reason that came down to it is that this is my home school and a team I cheered for my whole life. Ben Johnson hit the nail on the head when he told me 'imagine going somewhere else and thinking about what it would be like to not be at Minnesota.' When he told me that, it was a wrap. I knew I had to stay at home.
Describe your time at Northern State and how that helped prepare you for Division I?
My time at Northern State was unique as I had two different coaches. Coach Paul Sather was my coach for the first two years and was a guy that taught me to really work hard and how to follow the rules, stay disciplined and how to do things the right way. Then I had Coach Saul Phillips, who allowed me to fall in love with the way I want to play basketball and see the fun behind it. It's a game and something we enjoy doing. So that was special for me, two different coaches that gave me two different dynamics. Northern created a culture that it was about winning and that culture was about hard work and you're going to win because you worked hard. With four-straight conference championships, it taught me how to win and that's why I was ready for the next step.
You and Coach Johnson talked about coming to Minnesota even though you let it be known that you tore you ACL. Talk about how that conversation went and what led to still coming to Minnesota?
Coach Johnson was the first person I called obviously. I wanted to make sure he knew where I was at and how it was going. I sat down with Coach Phillips at Northern first thing he told me was to call Coach Coach Johnson and let him know. I didn't know what he was going to tell me, I was a little scared and if he still wanted me or not. The first thing Coach Johnson said was that we were going to work through this and it's just a setback. That showed me right there that I picked the right school and the right coach. He didn't waiver or second guess. He was about getting me here and getting me back. He also talked to me about how I can help the program even when I'm hurt in recruiting and game plan and wanted me to be a part of it. That was special to me.
How is your rehab going?
Rehab is going really great. It will be nine months Jan. 27. I'm hoping I can do some live stuff. I'm just listening to our athletic training staff and working at the Training Haus. Also listening to the doctor who did my surgery. I'm taking it easy, but also ramping it up and getting into my basketball specific moves.
Although you can't be in the lineup, how have you been able to help your team?
I think the person that I am and the energy I can bring helps. I'm just trying to keep all the guys together. It's something that was taught to me at a very young age. In order for a team to win, they have to be bought in and together. That's something I love to do - bring everyone together and create that culture and energy - we are playing for one another and that's something we've done really well here. We don't worry about individual or personal stuff, we are coming together. That's something that I've taken under my wing is to make sure everyone is happy and that everyone is ready to play for one another. I just want to create good energy and create good Minnesota spirit.
You earned a sports marketing degree at Northern. How has that helped you with Name Image and Likeness and where do you see this going in the future of college athletics?
It's something I've been interested in for a long time and something I've been studying. I did a research paper about athletes getting paid to play and we're getting closer to that mark. That is something you study and learn and it interested me. One of my favorite things is marketing and marketing in sports. NIL is basically marketing yourself in sports. It's been something I've taken classes in, even sports law and taught me on the law behind it. There's a lot of different dynamics and different things you have to think about. At the end of the day, you're marketing yourself to companies and your ability to play sports.
You're working on your master's degree in sports management. How does that and sports marketing help you after college?
This is the next step for me where after my career is done, after NIL is done, I want to work in front offices or specific sports teams. My dream would be to work with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Working in management with a professional sports organization is my next step and excited to learn more.
I know you've been attending Gopher Basketball games since you were young. What's your first memory of Gopher men's basketball?
One of my favorite players is Blake Hoffarber. I remember the shot he had at Hopkins High School on his butt at the state tournament. I became a fan of that and then hit the big shot when he was in the Big Ten tournament. It was a full court pass and a catch near the free throw line. That's my favorite away memory. But I'll always remember Rodney Williams and his 360 dunk. There's so much stuff. Just being a court kid at the games and astonished of how big the guys were and never thinking I'd be able to play there. Being able to see it come to fruition is been pretty special.
You're a big supporter of Gopher Athletics as well a lot of professional sports already since you've been back. What's been some of your favorite events you've attended so far?
It's just cool that I get to come back to this kind of stuff. Being in a major city and a lot of pro sports teams here, we also have phenomenal sports here at Minnesota. Just being able to go to all those games has been great. My dad and I used to go to Gopher hockey games since I was 3 or 4 years old so I have memories of Gopher hockey as much as I do of Gopher basketball. Kyle Rau, Jay Barriball, just great Gopher Hockey players and going to watch them. I hadn't been able to go to a Gopher hockey game in five or six years so I texted my dad and said I was at the game with my team, wish you were here. He loved it. I also love going to Minnesota Timberwolves games. I have become friends with some of the guys on the team and just being able to go to games. I got to go and see LeBron James, who I would haven't been able to see was great, he's my favorite player. Moments like that can't be brought to you if you're not in a major city. Minneapolis/St. Paul gives you that opportunity.
After Northern State, you were recruited by a lot of schools, but why specifically was it about Minnesota that made you decide to come here?
The main reason why I coach Minnesota was the strong connection I developed with Coach Johnson, Coach Thorson, Coach Kemp and Coach Jenkins. They were reaching out to me every single day and keeping up to date with me. Another reason that came down to it is that this is my home school and a team I cheered for my whole life. Ben Johnson hit the nail on the head when he told me 'imagine going somewhere else and thinking about what it would be like to not be at Minnesota.' When he told me that, it was a wrap. I knew I had to stay at home.
Describe your time at Northern State and how that helped prepare you for Division I?
My time at Northern State was unique as I had two different coaches. Coach Paul Sather was my coach for the first two years and was a guy that taught me to really work hard and how to follow the rules, stay disciplined and how to do things the right way. Then I had Coach Saul Phillips, who allowed me to fall in love with the way I want to play basketball and see the fun behind it. It's a game and something we enjoy doing. So that was special for me, two different coaches that gave me two different dynamics. Northern created a culture that it was about winning and that culture was about hard work and you're going to win because you worked hard. With four-straight conference championships, it taught me how to win and that's why I was ready for the next step.
You and Coach Johnson talked about coming to Minnesota even though you let it be known that you tore you ACL. Talk about how that conversation went and what led to still coming to Minnesota?
Coach Johnson was the first person I called obviously. I wanted to make sure he knew where I was at and how it was going. I sat down with Coach Phillips at Northern first thing he told me was to call Coach Coach Johnson and let him know. I didn't know what he was going to tell me, I was a little scared and if he still wanted me or not. The first thing Coach Johnson said was that we were going to work through this and it's just a setback. That showed me right there that I picked the right school and the right coach. He didn't waiver or second guess. He was about getting me here and getting me back. He also talked to me about how I can help the program even when I'm hurt in recruiting and game plan and wanted me to be a part of it. That was special to me.
How is your rehab going?
Rehab is going really great. It will be nine months Jan. 27. I'm hoping I can do some live stuff. I'm just listening to our athletic training staff and working at the Training Haus. Also listening to the doctor who did my surgery. I'm taking it easy, but also ramping it up and getting into my basketball specific moves.
Although you can't be in the lineup, how have you been able to help your team?
I think the person that I am and the energy I can bring helps. I'm just trying to keep all the guys together. It's something that was taught to me at a very young age. In order for a team to win, they have to be bought in and together. That's something I love to do - bring everyone together and create that culture and energy - we are playing for one another and that's something we've done really well here. We don't worry about individual or personal stuff, we are coming together. That's something that I've taken under my wing is to make sure everyone is happy and that everyone is ready to play for one another. I just want to create good energy and create good Minnesota spirit.
You earned a sports marketing degree at Northern. How has that helped you with Name Image and Likeness and where do you see this going in the future of college athletics?
It's something I've been interested in for a long time and something I've been studying. I did a research paper about athletes getting paid to play and we're getting closer to that mark. That is something you study and learn and it interested me. One of my favorite things is marketing and marketing in sports. NIL is basically marketing yourself in sports. It's been something I've taken classes in, even sports law and taught me on the law behind it. There's a lot of different dynamics and different things you have to think about. At the end of the day, you're marketing yourself to companies and your ability to play sports.
You're working on your master's degree in sports management. How does that and sports marketing help you after college?
This is the next step for me where after my career is done, after NIL is done, I want to work in front offices or specific sports teams. My dream would be to work with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Working in management with a professional sports organization is my next step and excited to learn more.
I know you've been attending Gopher Basketball games since you were young. What's your first memory of Gopher men's basketball?
One of my favorite players is Blake Hoffarber. I remember the shot he had at Hopkins High School on his butt at the state tournament. I became a fan of that and then hit the big shot when he was in the Big Ten tournament. It was a full court pass and a catch near the free throw line. That's my favorite away memory. But I'll always remember Rodney Williams and his 360 dunk. There's so much stuff. Just being a court kid at the games and astonished of how big the guys were and never thinking I'd be able to play there. Being able to see it come to fruition is been pretty special.
You're a big supporter of Gopher Athletics as well a lot of professional sports already since you've been back. What's been some of your favorite events you've attended so far?
It's just cool that I get to come back to this kind of stuff. Being in a major city and a lot of pro sports teams here, we also have phenomenal sports here at Minnesota. Just being able to go to all those games has been great. My dad and I used to go to Gopher hockey games since I was 3 or 4 years old so I have memories of Gopher hockey as much as I do of Gopher basketball. Kyle Rau, Jay Barriball, just great Gopher Hockey players and going to watch them. I hadn't been able to go to a Gopher hockey game in five or six years so I texted my dad and said I was at the game with my team, wish you were here. He loved it. I also love going to Minnesota Timberwolves games. I have become friends with some of the guys on the team and just being able to go to games. I got to go and see LeBron James, who I would haven't been able to see was great, he's my favorite player. Moments like that can't be brought to you if you're not in a major city. Minneapolis/St. Paul gives you that opportunity.
Coming Home: Jim Shikenjanski
Tuesday, March 03
Cinematic Recap: Gophers-Bruins
Monday, March 02
Postgame Reaction: Coach Medved
Saturday, February 28
Highlights: Gophers 78, UCLA 73
Saturday, February 28