It had been rumored for the past few days and, unfortunately, the speculation has turned out to be the truth.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz confirmed today that defensive coordinator Norm Parker had his right foot amputated a little over two weeks ago. Parker suffers from diabetes, and had previously seen four toes on his left foot amputated due to the disease.
The 68-year-old Parker coached the season opener from the coaches’ box Sept. 4, but has missed the past four games. He was reportedly admitted to the hospital Sept. 10 due to back pain; the pain in his back, Ferentz said, was caused by the fact that he has been forced to wear casts on his feet for 11 of the past 14 months.
Ferentz said Parker’s return to coaching is not imminent, but he will return at some point this season.
Parker is in his 12th season as a member of Ferentz’s Hawkeyes coaching staff.
