July 15, 2004

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Tim Parenton, Samford University's head baseball coach, has accepted a position as an assistant baseball coach at the University of Florida.

"My seven years at Samford were a special time for me, and for my wife," Parenton said. "We made a lot of good friends and coached a lot of great young men. I think the foundation has been set for a championship program, and I hope the new coach will come in and build on that foundation."

Parenton has been the head coach at Samford for the past seven seasons. In 2004, Parenton guided the team in its first season as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference and was named the league's Coach of the Year.

At Florida, Parenton will work under head coach Pat McMahon, who he worked under at Old Dominion University (1990-94). Parenton also worked with McMahon at Mississippi State University as a graduate assistant (1985-87) and as an assistant coach (1996-97). He replaces Tom Slater, who was recently named head coach at Auburn.