Kirk Ferentz now has a Broyles Award recipient on his staff at Iowa.

That distinction came Tuesday with an announcement that longtime defensive coordinator and secondary coach Phil Parker was the 2023 recipient of the honor as the top assistant coach in college football. Despite the challenges facing the Hawkeyers, Iowa rode that defense to 10 wins and a B1G West title.

Ferentz was quick to react to the honor on social media with a statement of appreciation for Parker’s work:

Phil Parker is an incredible football coach, and I am extremely pleased that he has been recognized for his career success by the Broyles Committee.

We simply would not have achieved the success we have as a program without Phil’s dedication and leadership. Since 1999, we have benefited from Phil’s expertise and tenacity.

Phil is an exceptional coach and teacher. He has helped develop hundreds of student athletes into better football players on the field and prepared them to be better men off the field. He is one of a kind, and I am so happy that he has been by my side in this program throughout the past 25 years.

There’s no overstating the importance of Parker and his defense to the Hawkeyes. Now, that importance has been recognized with the 2023 Broyles Award.