KINGSVILLE, Texas – Texas A&M-Kingsville softball head coach
Betsy Dean announced the hiring of
Lauren Palmer as the team's new assistant coach. She started the position on Monday, October 12.
"I'm excited to have the opportunity to work with coach Dean and the softball team," Palmer said. "Having my husband Ronnie work with the football program has allowed me to become acquainted with the great people in the athletic department. I am pleased to assume a greater role with Javelina Athletics."
Palmer's primary duties with the Javelinas will be working with the offensive short game strategy, mental approach to offense, slappers and development of the outfielders.
"Words can't express how excited I am for Lauren to be joining our coaching staff," said Dean. "Her experience from playing for Tony Rico (Firecrackers Organization) and Mike Candrea (Arizona) has given her a wealth of knowledge and experience that will be critical to our team and building a championship culture."
Palmer previously served as a volunteer assistant coach at Colorado State during the 2014 season.
Before plying her trade in Fort Collins, Colorado, she was the head coach of Salinas Storm, an 18-under gold-level club team, and Notre Dame High School, her alma mater, in Monterey, California. With Notre Dame, Palmer helped lead the squad to a sectional championship in 2013.
A four-year starter in center field for Arizona, she helped the Wildcats make three Women's College World Series appearances. Palmer earned multiple individual honors throughout her career including being named to the 2009 NFCA All-Pacific Region and 2008 All-Pac-10 Freshman teams. She also earned Academic All-Pac-10 team honors each year along with Arizona's Life Skills Award and Community Service Award.
Palmer competed with USA Softball during the summer of 2010 and spent a season with Unione Fermana, a professional team in Montegranaro, Italy, after college.
In 2011, Palmer graduated from Arizona with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and minor in sociology.
She is a part of a very athletic family. Her sister, Lindsay Bell, was an All-American softball player at Tennessee, her father, Lyndon Schutzler, played baseball at UC-Santa Barbara, her mother, Vicki Schutzler, ran track at Southwest Missouri State and is a member of the school's hall of fame, and her uncle played baseball at Arizona and Cal Lutheran.
Palmer is married to
Ronnie Palmer, the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator for the Javelina football team.
The Blue and Gold begin their season on February 9, 2016 at home with a doubleheader against Texas A&M International.
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