With 35 total years of experience under his belt, 17 years as a head high school football coach, and 17 years as a collegiate assistant coach, Tyler Junior College Head Football Coach Danny Palmer knows what it takes to work and play hard.
Coach Palmer who was born in Tyler, attended John Tyler High School, which he played quarterback lettering in three sports all three years. In 1967, he was named to the All- State Baseball Team and was coached by the late Dr. Billy Jack Doggett.
In his collegiate years he started two years as quarterback for the University of Southern Mississippi were he received a B.S. in 1971. Later he received a Masters in Education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1987.
Coach Palmer has received numerous coaching awards in his years of coaching. In 1997 he was a Nominee for the Frank Broyles College Assistant Football Coach of the Year by the University of Houston.
He was also named Coach of the Year by the Waco-Tribune Herald while at Waco Richfield.
For eight years he was at the University of Houston as Assistant and Recruiting Coordinator and named the “Youngest 5A Head Coach” at Texas High at the age of 26 in 1975.
Coach Palmer joined the TJC’s coaching staff in January 2006 making this his first collegiate job as head football coach.
“My first year here was very rewarding, I was very appreciative of the sophomore group that we had. A lot of times when a new coach comes in, he’ll revamp the playing time and try to get as many freshman in. I was proud of our sophomore leadership guys like Nick Peoples, Kyle Roget and Josh Zomora, they did a great job helping us. At one part in the season we were 2-4 and we came back and won three games straight, and I attribute that to the sophomore group,” said Coach Palmer.
A lot of players enjoy and appreciate Coach Palmer as a coach and as a man.
“It’s a different experience, he stays on us that’s good I guess? He makes us work and for that were going to be a winning team,” said freshman football player Chris Lomax.
Broderick Berry defensive back red shirt freshman said, “Coach Palmer being the head coach, he really expects a lot for us to win and he wants to do right and never give up on the play, he’s all about winning and that’s what were here for, is to win.
Eight sophomores went to Division I this past season under Coach Palmer, the fall 2008 season coming up they have seven starters on defense, and eight starters on offense.
“We have a great recruiting class, I’m really looking forward for the ’08’ football season I’m thinking we’ll be at the top of the Conference that’s my hope and prediction and we should be there,” said Coach Palmer.
“I am very fortunate, very appreciative to be here at TJC,” said Coach Palmer.
