Brad Parris graduated from McMurry University as one of the most accomplished pole vaulters in NCAA Division III history. Parris was a five-time NCAA champion, achieving a sweep of the indoor and outdoor pole vault titles in both 1999 and 2000, as well as securing an indoor crown in 2001. If we consider only his indoor titles, Parris was only the second man in NCAA DIII history to win three consecutive pole vault crowns at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Additionally, Parris set an NCAA DIII pole vault record of 5.41m (17-9) as a junior and established the meet record of 5.34m (17-6¼) at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the same year. After graduation, Parris became an assistant coach at McMurry and was later elevated to head coach in 2014, a position that he held for several years following the retirement of USTFCCCA Hall of Famer Barbara Crousen.