Robert Lynn Parker was a college track and field coach for the throwing events at Texas A&M University and University of Texas at El Paso. He coached several NCAA champions, but was most recognized for coaching world record holder in the shot put, Randy Barnes.

Eric Randolph Barnes is an American former shot putter who held the outdoor world record for the event from 1990 to 2021. He won silver at the 1988 Olympics and gold at the 1996 Olympics. Only three throwers have been within 40 centimetres (16 in) of his outdoor world record since it was set. Barnes was banned for 27 months in 1990 for anabolic steroid usage, before he received a lifetime ban in 1998 after testing positive for androstenedione.