ANAHEIM, Calif. — Carson Palmer, a veteran NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner, has been appointed as the new head coach of Santa Margarita High School, which is also his alma mater.
The announcement was made by Santa Margarita through their social media channels on Friday. This prestigious Catholic prep school is situated in Rancho Santa Margarita, an affluent area in southern Orange County.
During his time at Santa Margarita in the late 1990s, Palmer achieved remarkable success with a record of 32 wins, 2 losses, and 1 tie as a starting player, clinching consecutive CIF Southern Section championships. He returned to the school last year in a supportive role, particularly as he reconciled coaching with his son, Fletch, who is a quarterback set to graduate in 2028.
Palmer’s football journey began at Santa Margarita before he advanced to play for USC, where he won the prestigious Heisman Trophy in 2002 under the guidance of coach Pete Carroll. Following that collegiate success, he was selected as the first overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Over a significant 15-year career, Palmer played for the Bengals, Oakland Raiders, and finally the Arizona Cardinals, leading the latter to the NFC Championship game in January 2016. Approaching his 45th birthday later this month, he concluded his professional playing career in January of 2018.
With his rich background in both high school and professional football, Palmer is set to bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Santa Margarita football program.
