The new school, located in western Wake County, is scheduled to open this fall.

Parker, an assistant football coach at Northern High in Durham, was the Durham Public Schools athletics director from 1997 through 2004.

He also was head football coach at Oxford Webb from 1984 through 1988, when he went to Northern.

"Tommy will do a great job of developing a high-quality athletics program with positive outcomes in participation, competition, and sportsmanship -- all framed around a focus on student-athletes who achieve in the classroom and in athletics," said Panther Creek principal Ronald Nelson, a former principal at Durham Jordan High.

Parker, a 1972 Durham High graduate, played baseball at Appalachian State. He began his coaching career on Hal Stewart's staff at Durham High in 1976.

The school's mascot and colors will be chosen after the Wake school board revises the tentative school reassignment plan. Nelson said he wants input from students and staff before selecting a mascot and colors.