Ronnie Palmer
Defensive Line
Twitter: @RonniePalmer33
Arizona ’09 (Bachelor’s in Social and Behavioral Sciences)
Colorado State ’14 (Master’s)
Former Colorado State University defensive graduate assistant Ronnie Palmer took over the defensive line coaching and special teams responsibilities at Texas A&M University-Kingsville on Feb. 2, 2015. Palmer joins the Javelinas after two seasons at CSU.
In his inaugural season with the Blue and Gold, Palmer had an All-LSC Second Team Defense athlete in Sione Tupouata and four total honorable mention athletes. Half came from the defensive side of the ball in Braedon Robinson and AA Vaaulu. Although not listed on any postseason awards, Brandon Jones led the LSC with three forced fumbles, tied for third with 10 solo tackles for loss and tied for fifth with four sacks. The Javelinas led the LSC with a .733 field goal percentage, ranked second in the LSC with 22.1 yards per kick return and fourth in the LSC with 7.8 yards per punt return. The other two honorable mentioned winners came from special teams in return man Nick Pelrean and kicker Julio De La Garza.
Spending two seasons as a defensive graduate assistant for the Rams, Palmer joined CSU as a strength and conditioning intern during the spring of 2013, assisting throughout the offseason workouts and spring practice.
A former collegiate and professional football player, Palmer in 2012 served as defensive coordinator at Monterey (Calif.) Peninsula College. A dominating season, MPC went on to win the Coastal Conference championship. A year earlier Palmer joined the coaching staff at his alma mater, the University of Arizona, in a quality control capacity midway through the 2011 season, following three years in professional football.
Following a stellar career at Arizona, where he earned Freshman All-America honors and was named Defensive MVP in 2008, Palmer was signed as a free agent by the Washington Redskins after the 2009 NFL Draft. He was drafted later that fall by the United Football League's Las Vegas Locomotives and played for the team that went on to win the UFL's inaugural championship game. He signed with the UFL's Sacramento Mountain Lions midway through the 2010 season and continued with the club through 2011.
During his time in the UFL, Palmer began his coaching career serving each spring as a volunteer assistant at Arizona. He was a four-year starting linebacker for the Wildcats from 2005-08 and was chosen a team captain while leading his team to Arizona's first bowl game in more than 10 years. Palmer earned his bachelor's degree in social and behavioral sciences from Arizona in 2009.
Palmer is a 2004 graduate of Spring (Texas) High School. He and his wife, the former Lauren Schutzler, were married in Aug. 2013. He earned his master’s in 2014.
The Palmer File
Full Name: Ronnie Palmer
College Coaching Experience: Four Years
Wife: the former Lauren Schutzler
Education: Bachelor’s in Social and Behavorial Science, Arizona ’09; Master’s of Education, Colorado State ‘14
Coaching Career
2009-2011 University of Arizona Volunteer Assistant
2011 University of Arizona Quality Control
2012 Monterey Peninsula College Defensive Coordinator
Playing Experience
2010-11 Signed with UFL Sacramento Mountain Lions
- Named a Team Captain by Head Coach Dennis Green
2009-10 Drafted by the Las Vegas Locomotives
- Won the UFL Championship in its inaugural season
2009 Signed a free agent contract with the Washington Redskins
2004-08 Four-Year Starter at the University of Arizona
- Defensive MVP (2008), Pac-10 honors, helping win Arizona’s first bowl game in over 10 years
- 2004 Freshman All-America honorable mention
