 Parfitt during the 1973–74 season | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1931-05-13)May 13, 1931 Gratiot County, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | September 6, 2021(2021-09-06) (aged 90) Mount Pleasant, Michigan, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1950–1953 | Central Michigan |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1962–1971 | Central Michigan (assistant) |
| 1971–1985 | Central Michigan |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 192–179 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 2MAC regular season (1975, 1977) | |
| Awards | |
| MAC Coach of the Year (1975) | |
Richard Allen Parfitt (May 13, 1931 – September 6, 2021) was an Americancollege basketball coach. He was head coach forCentral Michigan University (CMU) from 1971 to 1985, during which time he led their move from theNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) toNCAA Division I.
Parfitt was born inGratiot County, Michigan and attended Central Michigan College, where he played basketball andbaseball for the Chippewas. Following his graduation in 1953, he became a teacher and high school basketball coach inLaingsburg, Michigan, starting a prep coaching career that would last until 1962 when he returned to his alma mater as an assistant basketball and baseball coach.[1] In 1971 he was named head coach upon the resignation ofTed Kjolhede.[2] Parfitt served asCentral Michigan's head coach as the program transitioned from the NAIA to NCAA Division I status, joining theMid-American Conference (MAC) in the1972–73 season. Parfitt quickly built a successful program, winning conference titles and earning the school's first twoNCAA tournament appearances in 1975 and 1977. In all, Parfitt served 14 seasons as the Chippewas' head coach, compiling a career record of 192–179.
Parfitt died on September 6, 2021, at age 90.[1][3]
