SEGUIN, Texas — Kyle Palmer, a 2009 Texas Lutheran graduate, was named the 10th head baseball coach in TLU history Friday by Director of Athletics Bill Miller. The Bremond, Texas native has four years of head coaching experience from his last four seasons at Belhaven University.
“We had a lot of interest in this position but I believe that Kyle Palmer is the right fit at the right time. He’s a TLU alum, so you won’t have to worry about his work ethic and commitment,” said Miller. “He’s a seasoned coach that knows what it takes to continue our program at the level that it’s been. He knows all of the little things to run a successful program. He’ll be a great role model for our student-athletes, preparing them for their lives on and off the field, which is something I believe is important as a coach at Texas Lutheran. I’m excited for him and the future of TLU Baseball.”
Under Palmer, Belhaven went 77-60 (.562) in four seasons, including a 2022 season that saw the Blazers win 28 games, the most since becoming an NCAA institution and the most in a single season since 2015. Belhaven maintained a 39-27 conference record in the American Southwest Conference (ASC) and recorded a 12-5 conference record in their inaugural season in the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS).
“My family and I have always said it would take a special job for us to leave the Belhaven University community that has been such a blessing to us,” said Palmer. “Texas Lutheran University is that special job. I am very grateful for Vice President Scott Little and President Parrott for the southern hospitality that we have experienced from day one at Belhaven.”
“It is an answer to prayer for us to be able to come back home to Texas Lutheran University and lead such a historic and successful baseball program. I am extremely humbled that Coach Miller, Coach Burnett, and President Cottrell have trusted me with such a great program at such a great University.”
“I know I’m joining many others in the TLU community in welcoming Coach Kyle Palmer back to TLU,” said TLU President Dr. Debbie Cottrell. “We are all excited to have an alum, former player, and coach of his caliber return to lead our baseball team. Coach Palmer inherits a program with a great tradition and a very strong foundation, and we look forward to seeing him build on that.”
Palmer earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Texas Lutheran in 2009. Palmer was a catcher for the TLU Baseball team during his career at TLU as the Bulldogs won ASC Tournament championships in both 2006 and 2007, earning NCAA West Regional berths as a result.
Palmer’s Career Accolades include:
- 77-60 (.562) in four seasons as Head Coach at Belhaven University (2020-23)
- Finished 28-16 in 2022, the most wins for the Blazers since 2015, and most wins since becoming an NCAA institution
- Worked at California Baptist University (D-I) in Riverside, California, where he worked as Director of Baseball Operations under Head Coach Gary Adcock from 2018-2019
- Palmer was an assistant coach at East Texas Baptist for seven seasons (2012-18). During his tenure, the Tigers emerged as an annual American Southwest Conference (ASC) contender after the staff inherited a program that went nearly a decade without an ASC tournament win. Palmer led recruiting efforts which produced 5 ASC Tournament qualifying teams, two 30-win seasons, 31 ASC All Conference players, 4 All Americans, 62 ASC All Academic players and one Major League Baseball (MLB) draft pick (Tyler Bates, Los Angeles Angels). Two of those ETBU squads led NCAA Division-III nationally in home runs (2016, 2017). His ETBU coaching responsibilities included coordination of on and off campus recruiting, practice and game management of the pitching staff, creation of scouting reports, supervision of the academic success program, coordination of a mission trip to the Dominican Republic, direction of baseball camp operations, management and inventory of equipment, field maintenance and assistance with NCAA compliance.
- Spent 2011-12 on the staff at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, where he assisted with pitchers and catchers and managed the recruiting database as part of his on and off campus recruiting responsibilities.
- Served as a Graduate Assistant and Assistant Camp Director at Texas A&M University from 2009-2011, under Head Coach Rob Childress. His duties included on-campus recruiting, pitcher conditioning, operations assistance, supervision of undergraduate assistants and management of equipment. During that span, the Aggies made a College World Series appearance, posted two 40+ win seasons, won 2 Big XII Tournament championships, hailed 5 All Americans and had 13 student-athletes drafted.
- Was part of Bulldog teams that won the ASC Tournament in 2006 & 2007, making NCAA Regional appearances both years