Ronnie Palmer was added to the Arizona Football program as Assistant Coach - Defense in Feb. 2025, and enters his first season with the program as a coach in 2025.
Palmer returns to his alma mater after playing for the Wildcats from 2005-08. He was named Team Captain, Defensive MVP, and earned the following honors during his time with the program: Butkus Award Watch List, Las Vegas Bowl Champion, four-year starter, and Freshman All-American.
In four years at Arizona, Palmer had 275 tackles and led the Wildcats to the 2008 Holiday Bowl.
He signed with the Washington Commanders in 2009 and played for the Las Vegas Locomotives in the UFL from 2009-10, earning a UFL Championship during that time. Palmer then went on to play for the Sacramento Mountain Lions in the UFL.
Most recently, Palmer served as Head Coach of the football program at Monterey Peninsula College, leading MPC to Gold Coast Conference Championships in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. He was named Coach of the Year following each one of those seasons. Under Palmer's guidance, Monterey Peninsula had 45 players selected to First-Team All-Gold Coast Conference, 22 players selected Academic All-State Team, and 16 players selected to All-Region/All-State Team.
Palmer helped nine players earn MVP Awards and guided one player to 3C2A All-American.
Prior to his success with Monterey Peninsula College, he served as Defensive Assistant, Special Teams Assistant at the University of Northern Colorado from 2018-19 and Defensive Assistant, Special Teams Coordinator at Texas A&M Kingsville University from 2015-17.
After leaving the field as a player with Arizona, he served as a quality control, defensive assistant with the Wildcats in 2011. Palmer joined Monterey Peninsula College in 2012 as the Defensive Coordinator and Instructor, and served from 2013-14 as a Defensive Graduate Assistant, Special Teams Assistant with Colorado State University. Helping the Rams to Las Vegas Bowl Champions (2014), New Mexico Bowl Champions (2013), and coached the conference defensive player of the year.
Palmer earned his Bachelor of Arts in Social and Behavioral Sciences in May of 2009 from the University of Arizona and a Masters in Education, with an emphasis in Physical Education and Coaching in May of 2017.
