Baseball | 2/27/2025 1:56:00 PM
CROOKSTON, Minn. - University of Minnesota Crookston baseball Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Dalton Parks is leaving the Golden Eagles to be the head baseball coach at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. Parks will be starting the program for the Bengals, who will compete in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).
"We are going to miss Dalton in all aspects of this program and cannot thank him enough for all his hard work," said Head Coach Steve Gust. "He poured all of his heart and soul into our players and the teams he coached here at Minnesota Crookston. We are happy he found a head coaching job and excited for his future."
Parks spent three-and-a-half seasons with the Golden Eagles as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. He was a major part of the greatest run of success in program history. The Golden Eagles set their program wins mark in 2023 with 38 victories, and their conference wins record with 28 in 2024. The Golden Eagles combined for a 95-66 mark during his time as an assistant coach. In addition, Parks helped coach nine student-athletes to 12 All-NSIC nods as an assistant coach. He also coached NSIC Player of the Year Jake Hjelle, NSIC Newcomer of the Year Mike Hallquist, NSIC Freshman of the Year Josh Dykhoff, and NSIC Pitcher of the Year Alex Koep. In addition, Hjelle was a Region Player of the Year, Koep was Region Pitcher of the Year, and Hjelle was 2023 NCBWA National Player of the Year. Parks also did a tremendous job in recruiting the next generation of Minnesota Crookston baseball players.
"My time here has been absolutely amazing, and it was some of the best times of my life," said Parks. "I am truly honored and blessed to have had the opportunity to wear the maroon and gold again. I can't thank the players, coaches, administrators, and Coach Gust enough for believing in me and I'm so proud that we were able to accomplish so many great things during my time."
In addition to his time as an assistant coach, Parks was on the ground floor of the foundation of success at Minnesota Crookston as a player. He was a member of Coach Steve Gust's first two rosters for the Golden Eagles in 2015 and 2016, helping Minnesota Crookston make their first NSIC Tournament berth since 2001 at the conclusion of the 2016 season. Since 2016, Minnesota Crookston has made five more NSIC Tournament berths.
"It's been a dream of mine for a long time now to be a college head coach and it is exciting to have that happen," Parks stated. "I'm excited to see a new part of the country and make an impact on people's lives in a new setting. Getting the opportunity to start the program and create our own traditions is a pretty unique experience that I'm happy to lead the way on."
Parks spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at the University of West Alabama. Prior to West Alabama, Parks was an assistant coach at Clarendon College, a Division I junior college in Texas. Parks' first job out of college was as the assistant coach for Hunter H.S. in West Valley City, Utah.
