BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU head Track and Cross Country coach Erik Jenkins added a successful leader to his coaching staff as Will Palmer becomes the new distance coach.
Palmer was most recently at Iowa State, where the Cyclones claimed multiple conference and regional titles while he was there.
"Will joins us after a successful stint at Iowa State. He is tireless recruiter and one of the hardest working individuals I have seen,” said Jenkins. “He has been immersed in a highly successful environment and mentored by some of the most decorated distance coaches in the country. His coaching skills are complemented by his ability to recruit domestically and internationally. Having another coach to recruit every event area is key to our programs success at the conference and national level. We are fortunate to have him as a member of the staff.”
Palmer worked with a highly successful women’s distance program during his time with the Cyclones, helping lead the team to a pair of Big 12 and Midwest Regional titles. The highlight of Palmer’s time came when he assisted the Iowa State women to a runner-up finish at the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championships, the highest finish for the school since 1985.
Before his time at ISU, Palmer served as the director of operations at Oklahoma, where he was responsible for team travel logistics, home meet management, managing communication between the track and field staff and other athletics offices for the Sooners. The new assistant coach also interned for stints with the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) and Team Indiana Elite.
Palmer ran for the men’s cross country and track and field teams at Williams College from 2007-2011, primarily focusing on the 1500m and 3000m steeplechase. He received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 2011.
