Nikki Palmer became the 12th coach in program history, taking over the Triton squad in the summer of 2024 which recently completed its four-year NCAA reclassification period from Division II to Division I with 14 All-Big West selections, a Big West pitcher of the year, and three NFCA All-Region selections.
In her eight seasons at the helm of UCR, Palmer became the winningest head coach in program history in 2023 and tallied her 200th career-win in the same season. Out of her eight seasons, Palmer holds five of the winningest seasons on the top 10 list. The UC San Diego alumna takes over for her former head coach Patti Gerckens, who led the Tritons for over 30 seasons.
Palmer returns to La Jolla following a solid stint at UC Riverside, where she compiled an overall record of 181-193 (.484). Her career record sits at 226-319 and includes three seasons at Utah Valley. In the Big West, Palmer has coached 13 All-Big West honorees (five First Team), three Big West All-Freshman honorees, four All-Region selections and the 2018 Big West Defensive Player of the Year in Hannah Rodriguez.
At Utah Valley, Palmer tallied a 45-126 record where she made history in her first season with the Wolverines when she led them to a WAC Tournament Championship and UVU’s first postseason berth for any sport in the school’s NCAA era. Setting multiple records and earning several notable wins across various conferences, Palmer also had 13 student-athletes named to the Academic All-WAC team.
The Temecula native comes to La Jolla with international experience as well as she is the current national head coach for Team Israel. Palmer led Israel to a fourth-place finish in a field of 17 at the 2021 Women’s European Championship in Italy.
Graduating in June 2007 from UC San Diego, Palmer was a double major in Sociology and Communications, she remained on campus as a volunteer assistant coach for a season in 2008 after playing four years as a letter winning catcher for Gerckens.
Joining Palmer in La Jolla, are her wife, Lindsay, and their two sons Jensen and Hendrix.
