CHRIS PARNO: A Vikings Super Bowl Would Be Nice To Witness…Or Maybe The Pyramids

by BLAKE PIESCHKE, CSU Public Relations Intern

Chris Parno is in his ninth year with the program as the Associate Head Track and Field Coach. Parno, who leads the men’s and women’s sprint and hurdle groups, is known for coaching sprinters and hurdlers to outstanding success. After leading Minnesota State women’s track & field program to a second-place finish in the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field National Championships, Parno was named 2021 NCAA Division II Women’s Indoor Track and Field National Assistant Coach of the Year.

Chris Parno
  • What three words best describe you? Persistent, dedicated and inclusive
  • What tops your list of pet peeves? Unorganized, poor execution of things practiced and people asking questions on things that were addressed in an email
  • If you could be any animal, what would it be and why? Bird, being able to fly and see the cool views
  • Who is your all-time favorite sports star? Randy Moss
  • What is your most prized possession? Moped, drum set and mountain bike
  • What three items can always be found in your refrigerator? Cheese, hard salami and ground turkey
  • If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time? Find more time for hobbies and reading
  • What skill would you like to master? Photography and videography
  • What is the luckiest thing that has happened to you? Getting coaching job here, finding great wife and the way life has been to get where I’m at
  • What is something that a ton of people are obsessed with but you just don’t get the point of? Tik Tok
  • If all jobs had the same pay and hours, what job would you like to have? Professional drummer or mountain bike stuff; anything dealing with my hobbies
  • Who inspires you to be better? My wife
  • What is something you will NEVER do again? Run a half marathon and never eat something with meat on bones
  • What is something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives? Move somewhere without knowing what you’re going to do
  • If you could have a superpower, what would it be? Teleportation and have a super metabolism where I can eat whatever I want and not gain weight
  • If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?  Buy an even nicer bike, build a cool house, build awesome indoor track facility, trick out a vehicle or travel wherever
  • If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be? Vikings Super Bowl or cool historical things like the pyramids and such
  • What do you like most about Minnesota State University, Mankato? Gives the freedom to build diversity and build a team from different locations, affordable and always looking to better things on campus
  • If you were stuck on an island, what three things would you bring with you? Bed, something to start a fire, and sunscreen
  • If you had to eat at a fast-food restaurant for the rest of your life, what would it be? Wendy’s, Taco Johns or Whataburger
  • What fictional character would you like to meet? Tony Stark
  • What’s something that overwhelms you? A toddler and their infinite amount of energy or traveling with big groups at airports
  • What are you most proud of? The teams we’ve been able to build
  • If you had the option to know the date and circumstance of your death, would you? No
  • What is one thing that should be taught in school but isn’t? More stuff on financial planning and investing
  • What was your favorite activity as a child? Street hockey until my parents yell at me to come in and making jumps with bikes at construction sites
  • How long do you think you would last in a zombie apocalypse? Make it to the end

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