Tennessee Middle School is proud to announce the appointment of Mark Palmer as the new head football coach. A veteran educator and coach with decades of experience, Palmer brings a strong record of leadership, program development, and student-centered coaching to the Vikings.
Palmer holds a Master of Sports Management with a concentration in sports administration from American Military University and a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education/Health from Liberty University. His background in both education and athletics reflects a deep commitment to developing student-athletes on and off the field.
Over the course of his career, Palmer has served in a variety of coaching roles at the high school level, including multiple head coaching positions across Virginia and Kentucky. Most recently, he has been an assistant coach at Northwood High School in Saltville, Virginia, where he has contributed as offensive coordinator and position coach. During his time there, the program achieved its first playoff appearance and best record in a decade.
Prior to that, Palmer led programs at Anderson County High School in Kentucky and Patrick Henry High School in Virginia. At Patrick Henry, he guided the team to seven playoff appearances in nine seasons, secured multiple district and regional championships, and was recognized with several Coach of the Year honors. His teams consistently demonstrated growth, resilience, and competitive success, including a historic undefeated regular season and the school’s first regional title.
In addition to his coaching accomplishments, Palmer has extensive experience as an educator and athletic director. He has taught physical education, strength and conditioning, and personal finance, and he has led athletic departments with a focus on building strong feeder programs, supporting coaches, and creating positive experiences for student-athletes.
Coach Palmer is known for emphasizing character development alongside athletic performance, often implementing team-building programs designed to strengthen relationships, accountability, and leadership among players. His approach aligns with the district’s core values of excellence, integrity, and community.
“We are excited to welcome Coach Palmer to Tennessee Middle School,” said Principal Luke Douthat. “His experience, leadership, and passion for working with students will be a tremendous asset to our football program and school community.”
Supporting Palmer is a dedicated coaching staff that reflects a strong, collaborative team ready to lead and mentor student-athletes. Assistant coaches for the Tennessee Middle School football program include Logan Booher, Micah Kennedy, Josh Vance, Matt Austin, and Carter Keesee.
Tennessee Middle School looks forward to the leadership and energy Coach Palmer and his staff will bring as they build on the proud tradition of Viking athletics.