Casting for connection

Harbert alumnus Logan Parks’ foundation is rooted in passion, purpose and mentorship

A world-champion angler, Logan Parks is taking his passion for fishing and paying it forward through his philanthropy that helps young anglers reel in their own dreams.

Growing up in Auburn, Alabama, Parks’ love for fishing began at a young age. He spent his childhood fishing in neighborhood ponds and on local golf course lakes. During his time at Auburn High School, he co-founded the Auburn High School fishing team — The Auburn Anglers. This initiative allowed him to compete in fishing tournaments and develop his skills further. The support from local college anglers, who volunteered as boat captains and mentors, played a crucial role in Parks’ early success in competitive fishing.

Parks’ decision to attend Auburn University was heavily influenced by the relationships that he built with members of the Auburn University Bass Fishing Team throughout high school. Competitive college fishing opened his eyes to a whole new world of fishing. He discovered that his love for the sport had the potential to be more than just a fun hobby and could lead to a lucrative career.

During his final semester at Auburn, Parks and his college co-angler Tucker Smith won the Bass Pro Shop U.S. Open National Championship and a $1 million first place payout, giving him the financial backing to pursue his life-long dream to fish competitively. He used a portion of his winnings to establish the Logan Parks Bass Fishing Endowed Scholarship, the first bass fishing scholarship at Auburn University. The scholarship will continue in perpetuity and has allowed the team to significantly elevate their recruiting efforts to attract top high school talent.

Casting a wider net

After earning a double major in supply chain management and information systems management from Harbert College of Business in December of 2021, Parks felt led to give back to young anglers just like his mentors had done for him. Over the years, Parks noticed a significant disconnect between high school and college anglers and he wanted to bridge the gap in this divide.

“High school and college anglers have always stayed in their own separate worlds,” he said. “But I knew that if I could bring the two groups together that they could learn and grow from each other and create meaningful mentorships.”

In 2023, he founded the Logan Parks Fishing Foundation with the mission of ensuring that no angler quits fishing due to lack of opportunity. The Foundation empowers high school and college fishermen by connecting them with mentors and meaningful experiences that help them grow in the sport and in life. With a strong commitment to safety, conservation and community, the Foundation works to build a responsible path forward for the next generation of anglers while paying forward the support that shaped Parks’ own journey.

Building an NSANE community

With the Foundation officially up and running, Parks quickly began planning the inaugural NSANE Fishing Tournament for the fall of 2023. The goal for the tournament was to grant high school anglers an opportunity to showcase their fishing prowess while also serving as a scouting ground for college teams seeking the next wave of fishing stars. Powered by the state-of-the-art Fishing Chaos App, participants immersed themselves in a tech-driven angling experience that redefined the parameters of competitive fishing.

Over the past three years, the tournament has grown in popularity and recognition. The third annual NSANE tournament concluded in November 2025 with a record number of awards, scholarships and participants. For example, participant numbers have more than doubled since 2023 and prize totals have almost tripled in just two years. This year’s tournament hosted participants representing 37 different states, some traveling from as far away as Hawaii.

“The 2025 NSANE Tournament brought over 400 anglers to Auburn and the Lake Martin area. And I am proud to say that we were able to award almost $500,000 in cash, prizes and scholarships to those anglers,” Parks stated. “I am truly grateful for every sponsor and partner that made this event possible. I cannot wait to see what the future holds.”

Parks credits the knowledge and skills he gained while attending Harbert Business and being a member of the Auburn Bass Fishing Team with the confidence to launch and lead a non-profit organization. He noted that the training he received from his marketing and supply chain management courses have been crucial in executing the logistics of organizing and hosting a large-scale fishing tournament.

The positive impact of the tournament was recently recognized by being awarded the Champions of Economic Impact Award from Sports Destination Management and Auburn-Opelika Tourism.

Not quitting his “day job”

When he is not busy being president of a non-profit organization, you can find Parks at his “day job” -- Bassmaster Elite Series Professional Angler. One of his most recent accolades as a professional angler was being a member of team USA that took home the gold medal at the XIX World Championship Black Bass Tournament in South Africa in September 2025.

The future is bright for Parks, and he shows no signs of slowing down.

“If I can provide a stepping-stone for even just one angler to go on and achieve their dreams and keep them from quitting fishing, that's what keeps me motivated. I want to continue to create those resources and relationships for these young anglers, whether it helps them go to college, helps them pursue a career in professional fishing or connects them with a company to work full time.”

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Learn more about how you can pay it forward with the next-generation of Auburn University students.