Arkansas softball head coach Courtney Deifel named Parker Staggs the program’s newest assistant coach on August 15, 2025.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Parker Staggs back to our Razorback softball family,” Deifel said of his hiring. “Parker’s work ethic, personality, and knowledge of the game make him an incredible asset to our program. He has a true passion for Razorback softball and a deep understanding of the program’s culture. We know he will make an immediate impact on our student-athletes, both on and off the field, and we couldn’t be more excited to have him back in Fayetteville.”
Staggs made an immediate impact during his first season as a full-time assistant in 2026, helping lead Arkansas to a 47-13 (15-9, SEC) overall record and the program’s first Women’s College World Series appearance. The Razorbacks’ 47 wins were the second-most in program history, while Arkansas earned a No. 5 national seed in the NCAA Tournament. Arkansas swept its way through NCAA Regional and Super Regional play while becoming the first team nationally since Arizona in 1995 to run-rule its first five NCAA Tournament contests. Additionally, Arkansas was just the eighth team in NCAA history to run-rule all games played in a regional since the Super Regional format was introduced in 2005. The Hogs also won each of their home SEC series and registered a 17-game winning streak from Feb. 7 to March 1. As a result of Hogs’ historic season, the Arkansas Coaching Staff was named the 2026 ATEC/NFCA Central Region Coaching Staff of the Year for the fourth time in program history. In the circle, Arkansas ranked in the top 20 nationally in numerous pitching statistical categories, including ERA (16th, 2.72), fewest hits allowed per seven inn. (10th, 5.64), shutouts (11th, 15), strikeout-to-walk ratio (15th, 2.55), team strikeouts per seven inn. (15th, 6.66), and WHIP (11th, 1.18). Under Staggs’ watch, Robyn Herron earned NFCA First-Team All-America and First-Team All-SEC honors after going 16-7 and registering a 2.28 ERA with 180 strikeouts in 122.2 innings pitched. Arkansas also had three pitchers garner 10+ wins in a season for the first time in program history and limited opposing hitters to a .216 batting average.
A native of Jefferson City, Mo., Staggs recently completed the 2025 season as an assistant coach at Duke, where he assisted with the Blue Devils’ pitching.
In 2025, under Staggs’ guidance, Duke finished the season ranked 20th nationally with 14 shutouts and 25th nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 2.53. Individually, Blue Devils pitcher Dani Drogemuller garnered Second-Team All-ACC honors after registering a team-best 3.13 ERA and 18-9 record in 174.1 innings of work.
Staggs returns to Fayetteville, where he spent the 2019-22 seasons as a team manager before serving the 2023-24 seasons as a graduate student manager for the Razorbacks. During his time on The Hill, Staggs was tasked with various duties to assist the Razorback softball program, including assisting with bullpen sessions, throwing live batting practice and scrimmages. Staggs also assisted on gameday by running the Dartfish and Flightscope software to gather analytic data to help the coaching staff.
Arkansas posted a 225-85 record during his stint as a student and graduate student manager while winning two SEC regular season championships and one SEC tournament championship in addition to making five NCAA Tournaments and two super regional appearances. During that time, Arkansas had two SEC Pitchers of the Year in Mary Haff (2021) and Chenise Delce (2022) and five NFCA All-America selections in the circle.
In addition to his collegiate experience, Staggs also served as a coach for the Gators, a local softball team in Jefferson City, and assisted the Kansas City Aces Fastpitch Club. His playing experience involves several men’s fastpitch tournaments and includes an invitation to the USA Junior Men’s National Team selection trials.
A 2022 graduate of Arkansas, Staggs earned his bachelor’s degree in sport and recreation management before earning his master’s in physical education in 2024.
