Video: Iowa’s Norm Parker to miss game, but could return next week

IOWA CITY - Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker will miss his fourth straight Iowa game this season, just days after he was released from University of Iowa Hospitals.

Parker, 68, was hospitalized Sept. 10 for diabetes-related complications. He subsequently missed the last three games, but called into Iowa's pre-game radio show before the Hawkeyes played at Arizona on Sept. 18. Parker said that night a "medical procedure" was planned for Sept. 20 but declined to reveal that procedure.

Parker previously had toes amputated because of diabetes and has worn a cast 11 of the last 14 months, which has resulted in back pain.

Multiple sources told SourceMedia Group that Parker had undergone another amputation. Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz declined to confirm the report Friday but said more details will be released about Parker's condition in the future.

"Norm's out of the hospital, and he's rehabbing right now," Ferentz said. "We'll have a statement when it's time to make a statement. At some point we'll give you all the specifics. But I think right now, hopefully out of respect for Norm and his family,  let's just let him get well and we'll get him back with us as soon as we can."

The affable Parker, who has coached at Iowa for 12 seasons, previously missed games in 2004 after vascular surgery on his left leg. Health issues in recent years also have forced him to coach in the press box rather than his favored spot on the sidelines.

Parker, who has coached football since 1965, often jokes that he'll never retire.

"Number one, I can't do anything else," he said on Aug. 4, 2009. "And my wife hates me."

Ferentz said Wednesday that Parker could return to the office next week during Iowa's bye, then return to coaching duties to prepare for Michigan on Oct. 16.