User:Cubbie15fan/Paris Parham

Paris Parham (born December 21, 1971) is an assistant men's basketball coach at the University of Illinois. Prior to joining the Fighting Illini staff, he served as an assistant coach at Illinois State University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Playing career
After graduating from Dunbar High School in Chicago, Illinois, Parham attended Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois for two years and then transferred to Minnesota State University, Mankato where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration in 1995.

At Lincoln College, Parham was a two-year letter winner as a point guard for the Lynx under head coach Joe O'Brien. As a freshman, Parham set the single game record for most assists in a game with 19. During his junior and senior seasons, Ford led the Bobcats in 3-point field goals.

Coaching career
Ford first served as a college assistant for 3 years at Western Carolina University for both his former head coach at Ohio, Larry Hunter. While on staff for the Catamounts, Ford recruited two future Southern Conference Defensive Players of the year in Brigham Waginger (2010) and Richie Gordon (2011). Waginger is currently an assistant coach at Western Carolina and Gordon is playing professionally in France.

In 2009, Ford returned to Ohio to join coach John Groce as an assistant. During his time at Ohio, he helped the Bobcats win two Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Tournament championships. In 2010 and 2012 Ohio went into the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, culminating with a Sweet-Sixteen appearance against North Carolina.

When coach Groce accepted the head coach position at the University of Illinois in 2012, Ford went with him as an assistant coach. Ford helped the Fighting Illini win the 2012 Maui Invitational Tournament, win a 2013 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament game against Colorado, and post a 23 win season in his first season at Illinois. The following season, Illinois made an appearance in the 2014 National Invitation Tournament.