After spectacular two-year run, Parks to leave Casper College
After a spectacular two-year run as the head coach of the Casper College Men’s Basketball team, Tom Parks has announced that he will step down from the position effective Thursday, May 1.
Parks noted that as much as he loved coaching, the stresses of being a head coach had taken their toll on him mentally and physically during the last five years of his career. “This decision was the most difficult I have ever had to make, and I am leaving on my own free will,” he said. “Casper College has supported me in tremendous ways throughout the last two years. This is solely my decision, and I’m extremely grateful to Linda Toohey, Brandon Kosine, and the former administration for granting me this opportunity to lead this program. I’m planning to be more present as a father and husband, and I made this decision for my family,” he noted.
“Casper College values the time that Tom was here and what he has done with and for the program. We are sorry to see him go,” said Linda Toohey, vice president for Student Services.
In his short two-year stint at Casper College, Parks recorded 49 wins to 16 losses for a winning percentage of .754, second only to Walter Dowler, who coached the 1946-1947 team to a 21-6 season for a winning percentage of .778. He saw both of his Casper College teams reach the Region 9 semifinals, complete with impressive records in the National Junior College Athletics Association during the 2023-2024 season: eighth in the nation in points per game at 91.6 ppg, three-pointers made per game at 10.1 3’s made per game, and three-point percentage at 39.1%.
During the 2024-2025 season, the team was third in the nation in total rebounds with 45.1 total rebounds per game; sixth in points per game at 95.0 ppg and in offensive rebounds per game at 15.4 offensive rebounds per game; seventh in free throws made per game at 18.4; eighth in three-pointers made per game at 10.5 3’s made per game; and ninth in the nation in field goal attempts per game at 71.4 field goals per game.
Six players from his first year as head coach moved on to the next level of college basketball, including Darius Robinson and Josh Ijeh, who were recruited to Division I NCAA teams. The second year saw eight players recruited, including four DI recruits: Abdul Bashir to Auburn University and Ethan Connery to William and Mary, and Yel Deeng, Bin Basil, and Stephen Osei with multiple DI offers.
Other records made during Parks’ coaching career at CC include 139 points scored against Miles City Community College on Nov. 22, 2024, the most points scored against an NJCAA D1 school; free throw percentage in a single season with Robinson — third and sixth all-time at 89.3% and 86.1% — during the 2023-2024 season and Bashir — fifth all-time at 87.7% during the 2024-2025 season; three-point field goals made in a season — Bashir first and second all-time at 131 makes, and 124 makes; and Robinson — third all-time at 111 makes; three-point field goals in a career — Bashir first all-time at 255 makes and Robinson second all-time at 160 makes; single-game scoring record — Bashir with 49 points vs. Laramie County Community College on Feb. 28, 2025; total points in a season — Bashir 2024-25 first all-time at 843 points, and total points in a career — Bashir first all-time at 1,483 points.
According to Parks, the last two years have been the most enjoyable of his coaching career. “Casper College is a special place to work, and I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. I’m extremely grateful to everyone who has poured into our program, and more specifically, our student-athletes.” He also noted that the “… community support has been unbelievable, and I’m honored that so many people showed our program tremendous amounts of love.”
Deion Anderson, currently the assistant coach, has been named interim head coach. According to Toohey, a search for the next head coach will begin in January or February of next year. Parks had nothing but love for Anderson and said, “Deion is a special human being, leader, mentor, and coach. He has been around some amazing coaches during his career, and he has a better understanding than anyone when it comes to knowing how Casper College defines success. He will continue to have a program that represents our amazing institution on and off the court.”