AUSTINTOWN — The Austintown Local School District and Austintown Fitch Athletic Department announced on Wednesday the appointment of T.J. Parker as the new varsity football head coach.

Parker is a 2003 graduate of Fitch High School and is in his 12th year as the physical education teacher at the school. While at Fitch, Parker earned All-Steel Valley Conference honors in both football and baseball.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education at Bethany (W.Va.) College while starting all four years in football as a wide receiver.

Parker’s coaching experience includes serving as an assistant coach at Westminster (Pa.) College. He has been freshman football head coach at Fitch and also has coached other sports in the district.

He resides in Austintown with his wife, Shelby, a 2006 Fitch graduate, and two daughters, Kenley and Mila, and will welcome a baby boy in February.

Parker is expected be approved at the Austintown Board of Education meeting Tuesday.

Other notable applicants for the position, according to published reports, included Solon assistant coach Matt Richardson, former Ursuline coach Jim Vivo and current Western Reserve coach Andy Hake.

Longtime Fitch head coach Phil Annarella passed away in mid-June and Jon Elliot served as interim head coach of the Falcons during the 2019 season.