Former USC and NFL quarterback Carson Palmer has announced that he is set to become the head coach at Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. The three-time NFL Pro Bowler and 2002 Heisman winner previously played quarterback for the high school and volunteered as a coach last season for the freshman team his son played on. Palmer, who was interviewed alongside two other candidates, has an extensive football background, having led Santa Margarita to back-to-back CIF Southern Section titles in his high school days.
Palmer’s hiring comes after former coach Anthony Rouzier was placed on administrative leave due to a locker room incident. While the school stated that there were no concerns about the safety and well-being of the players under Rouzier’s leadership, they decided to part ways after five seasons. The school president Andy Sulick praised Palmer’s football pedigree and understanding of the school’s culture, emphasizing that Palmer felt called to the coaching job.
During his NFL career, Palmer was selected first overall in 2003 by the Bengals and also played for the Raiders and the Cardinals. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2021 and completed nearly 4,000 passes for over 46,000 yards and 294 touchdowns. Palmer’s coaching role at Santa Margarita Catholic High School marks the beginning of a new chapter for the former quarterback as he transitions from the field to the sidelines.
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