Nick Paremski begins his third season at Arkansas State in 2020, but his second as safeties coach and special teams co-coordinator after spending the 2018 campaign overseeing the outside linebackers position.
Paremski and A-State won eight games and made a school-record ninth consecutive bowl-game appearance in 2019, defeating Florida International in the Camellia Bowl. The Red Wolves also won eight games in 2018 and played in the Arizona Bowl.
The Paremski-coached safeties had a pair of all-conference selections in 2019, including first-team choice Darreon Jackson and second-team pick BJ Edmonds. The duo helped A-State post 19 turnovers gained that ranked second in the Sun Belt and 48th in the nation. The Red Wolves recorded 12 interceptions that ranked second in the conference and 31st in FBS, while they also added seven fumble recoveries.
Safety Antonio Fletcher also enjoyed the best season of his career in 2019, recording 58 tackles and five pass break-ups as the Red Wolves compiled a 134.3 pass efficiency defense that was good for the third-best rating in the Sun Belt.
Jackson alone accounted for a team-high 120 tackles, while Edmonds ranked second on the squad with 97 stops. Jackson’s 120 tackles were the most by an A-State player since 2013.
With Paremski also working as special teams co-coordinator, A-State kicker Blake Grupe and punter Cody Grace were both named First Team All-Sun Belt Conference in 2019. Grupe was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist, while Grace concluded his career as a three-time member of the Ray Guy Award Watch List.
Paremski was part of A-State’s defensive staff that helped the Red Wolves conclude the 2018 campaign in strong fashion by not allowing more than 298 yards in four of the last five games, including the Arizona Bowl.
A-State also surrendered no more than 17 points in each of the final five outings. It marked the first time in A-State’s FBS history and first time at any level since 1986 that the defense allowed 17 points or less in five straight games. Along the way, the squad had seven defensive players named All-Sun Belt.
Paremski came to Arkansas State after spending 10 seasons at West Texas A&M from 2006-15, including the last three as defensive coordinator, and rejoined the Red Wolves as an assistant coach after also spending the 2016 campaign with the program when the squad won the Sun Belt Conference championship and defeated UCF in the Cure Bowl.
He served as the cornerbacks coach his first season at West Texas A&M before moving to defensive backs and being named the recruiting coordinator for the 2007 campaign. He continued in that role from 2008-13, but was also elevated to assistant head coach during that period.
During his time with the Buffaloes, he helped lead the program to Lone Star Conference (LSC) championships in 2006, 2007 and 2012. The 2012 squad was also Super Region 4 champions and a national semifinalist.
West Texas A&M ranked first in the conference in multiple defensive categories at least once during his tenure, including turnovers forced, pass efficiency defense and passing yards allowed. The 2013 team was No. 7 in the nation in turnovers forced, while also ranking third in tackles for loss. His 2015 defensive unit ended the year No. 8 in the country in turnover margin and No. 19 in tackles for loss.
Paremski coached 12 NFL or CFL players at West Texas A&M, while also mentoring 20 first team All-Lone Star Conference selections. He developed three players named the Lone Star Conference Defensive Back of the Year, one LSC Linebacker of the Year and two LSC Freshman of the Year choices.
Markus Pierce-Brewster, Bryan Johnson, Taylor McCuller and Ethan Westbrooks each signed NFL free agent contracts with the New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots and St. Louis Rams, respectively. His defensive unit also produced CFL signees Chris Olson and Kyle Voss.
Paremski developed LSC Defensive Backs of the Year Tae Evans (2010), who signed a free agent contract with the St. Louis Rams, Curtis Slater (2013) and Torian Oakley (2014). He also developed the talents of defensive backs Darnell Johnson, Arseel Shakoor, Bret Jones, Cashmin Thomas, Curtis Jefferson, Caleb Randolph and Jordan Smith, all of whom garnered various postseason accolades.
Prior to West Texas A&M, Paremski served as a graduate assistant coach at Texas A&M-Kingsville from 2004-05. The 2004 season saw the Javelinas win the Lone Star title and secure and NCAA Division II playoff berth while he was coaching cornerbacks and safeties. He coached three All-Lone Star Conference players, including NFL free agent Michael Bragg who captured All-Southwest Region honors following the 2004 campaign.
Paremski earned his Masters of Business Administration from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 2006, and he also holds his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
His first coaching position came at Holmen (Wis.) High School, where he was in charge of the defensive backs from 2002-04. He helped lead the football team to the Mississippi Valley Conference championship in both 2002 and 2003.
Nick and his wife, Krista are the parents of a son, Huston, and daughter, Alani.
