‘Parney’ stepping down as CEO of Flying Squirrels

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Todd “Parney” Parnell is stepping down as CEO of the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

A spokesperson with the team said Wednesday that Parney is switching roles and will still be a huge part of the team.

Parnell has been with the Squirrels since the team came to Richmond in 2010. He is known for his crazy pants, contagious energy, and passion for all things Squirrels.

He told us in a 2019 interview that 20-hour days at the ballpark were not uncommon for him.

This new role is expected to be more laid-back and allow Parney to take a break from full-time non-stop showbiz.

Parney got his start in baseball in December of 1989 as the director of Sales and Marketing for the Reading Phillies. But his desire to pursue a career in the game started much earlier, when he would attend minor league games with his father.

“I always looked at the people that wore the logo shirts and thought, ‘Man, wouldn’t it be amazing to go to a ballpark every day of your life and that’s your job?,’” Parney said in 2019.

WATCH NBC12′S STORY FROM 2019:

Parney is known for his wild pants, which he started wearing in 2011. During a Flying Squirrels’ slump, he wore a crazy pair of pants to liven things up a bit. Now the loud legwear is part of his identity.

“The next day I wore khakis, and a fan came up to me and said, ‘I was here last night and you’re not even trying today,’” he recalled. “I thought, ‘Wait a second, if they’re equating me wearing crazy pants to trying, then I can control that, right?’ So I just started buying pants.”

The confirmation of Parney stepping down as CEO came on the same day the Flying Squirrels released the 2024 season schedule.

Flying Squirrels Fan John Kazlo says he will miss seeing Parney on the field every game.

“He’s been the heart and soul of the organization, he’s made everything work the whole time, a real showman,” Kazlo said.

He says that Parney deserves to slow down and enjoy in his new role.

“That’s got to be easier on him than running around on the field and everything, making everybody happy,” Kazlo said.

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