Paul Cozens

HHP 430
Dr. Buchanan
10/8/15
Coach/ AD Mark Palmer

Coach Mark Palmer took the reins of the the Patrick Henry high School football program
in 2011. When he took over, the rebels were a dismal 0-10, and had not made the playoffs since
1999. Palmer came from St. Paul High in Wise County, where he lead one of the smallest high
schools in the state to a 33-49 overall record, and two playoff appearances. The best season
during his stint came in 2007 when his team won the Cumberland District title and finished with
an 8-3 record. Since taking over, the Rebel football team has improved every year. They were 53 in the regular season last year, and made a playoff appearance. This season, they are 4-1, and
have been winning games by 30 points or more. Palmer also serves as the Athletic Director for
the high school.
Palmer was a standout player at Ervington High School. After graduating in 1984, he attended
Liberty University. Palmer is said to bring a refreshing energy to the Rebel football program, and
it seems to be paying off. These are some questions that I would like to ask coach palmer.
I grew up and played high school football in a big city with mega high schools and 6A
football programs. I was not exposed to smaller scale high school football programs until I came

to Emory & Henry. From a coaching standpoint, what do you believe are some of the benefits/
what do you like about small town high school football?
There are several different career paths that can lead to an athletic director position. In
your opinion, what is the most useful job position to hold before becoming an AD?