New Coach Emerges From Out of Shadows : Trojans: Parker brings a running game to USC after serving as Raveling’s assistant for seven years.

The naming of Charlie Parker as USC’s interim coach Monday did not surprise followers of the Trojan basketball program.

Parker has worked quietly behind the scenes for seven years under George Raveling, who announced his retirement Monday. He has been influential in recruiting and developing many of the Trojans’ top players.

“I’ve known Charlie ever since I came back to USC four years ago,” Athletic Director Mike Garrett said. “I’ve always felt that he deserved a chance to coach at a major university.”

Parker, 45, is a 22-year college veteran who spent six years as coach at Wayne State in Detroit. There, he had a 120-56 record and three NCAA Division II tournament appearances.

“I’m very sad about George’s announcement, but at the same time I’m very excited about the opportunity,” said Parker, an Ohio native. “I’ve lost about 10 pounds over the last week.”

Parker and Jack Fertig have been coaching the Trojans in Raveling’s absence. Raveling was hospitalized after a traffic accident Sept. 25. When practice opened a month ago, they thought their role was to get the team through preseason drills and nonconference games until Raveling’s return before the start of Pacific 10 Conference play.

That plan changed Monday. Now Parker is the head man and Fertig his top assistant. Another assistant, Adrian Walters, moved into Fertig’s former role.

Parker will lead the Trojans for the 1994-95 campaign with an opportunity to be named permanently after the season.

“At the end of the year, we will sit down and analyze the situation,” Garrett said. “I just want to see Charlie relax and take control of the ballclub and show his expression of basketball.”

Parker will have no time to ease into the job. The Trojans play two nationally televised games on ESPN in the early going. On Wednesday night, they will play host to New Mexico State, which finished 23-8 last season, in the first round of the Preseason NIT. On Nov. 27, USC travels to Memphis, Tenn., to play in the inaugural Martin Luther King Classic against Temple.

The Trojans will be without two of their top rebounders from last season. Mark Boyd is playing professionally in Mexico and Tremayne Anchrum will sit out the season while recuperating from a knee injury he suffered two weeks ago.

“It’s real important for us to get our kids to play well and have fun with a new system,” Garrett said. “We want to have our fans enjoy the overall view. I’m not asking him to win immediately. I’m asking him to coordinate a good offense and defense, to play entertaining basketball.”

Before arriving at USC in 1988, Parker gained a reputation as a coach who liked a fast-paced team. In 1984, he was named Michigan coach of the year after leading Wayne State to a 24-7 record and to the final eight of the Division II playoffs. Each of his last five teams there was ranked in the top 20 in Division II.

Parker played basketball under Clipper Coach Bill Fitch on the Bowling Green freshman team in 1968 before transferring to Findlay.

With the Trojans, Parker will coach a running game.

“I see Charlie as an exciting coach who will feature teams that will run it up the court,” Garrett said. “That was his experience at Wayne State.”