Men's Basketball
Palmer, Rod
Rod Palmer
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Alma Mater:
- UC Irvine, '90
Rod Palmer enters his seventh season as an assistant coach at UCLA in 2025-26. Palmer has helped guide the Bruins to a record of 138-64 over the past six seasons (2019-20 through 2023-24). He joined the Bruins' program in May of 2019 after having spent his previous 12 seasons coaching at Long Beach State and San Diego State.
Palmer has coached in the Southern California region for the past 32 years, both at the high school and college levels. He has spent the previous six seasons at UCLA, and he coached at San Diego State in 2018-19. Prior to his time at UCLA and SDSU, Palmer spent 11 years as an assistant coach at Long Beach State, including the final four seasons as the program’s associate head coach.
Through six seasons at UCLA, Palmer has played a major role in guiding the Bruins to four NCAA Tournaments, including a Final Four trip in 2021. After advancing from the First Four to the Final Four in 2021, UCLA made back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances in 2022 and 2023. The Bruins advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2025. In addition, UCLA won the Pac-12 regular-season title in 2023, marking the program’s first regular-season league title since 2013. The Bruins finished in second place in the Pac-12 standings in 2019-20 and 2021-22. Head coach Mick Cronin was honored as the Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2020 and 2023. In addition, UCLA has tallied a record of 38-23 in games decided by five points or fewer (including any games that extended to overtime).
In Palmer’s first five years at UCLA, the Bruins' program had six players secure first-team All-Pac-12 acclaim – Adem Bona (2024), Tyger Campbell (2021, 2022, 2023), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (2022, 2023), Johnny Juzang (2022) and Chris Smith (2020). Over the past four seasons, UCLA has totaled seven selections on the conference All-Defensive Team, moving into the Big Ten in 2024-25. Kobe Johnson secured Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors in 2025. The Bruins' Pac-12 All-Defensive Team selections included Adem Bona in 2024, Bona and Jaylen Clark in 2023, and Clark, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Myles Johnson in 2022. Clark (2023) and Bona (2024) were named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons.
UCLA produced five NBA Draft selections over a three-year stretch from 2022-24. That included a pair of first-round picks in Peyton Watson in 2022 (Denver Nuggets) and Jaime Jaquez Jr. in 2023 (Miami Heat). The three second-round selections included Amari Bailey (2023), Jaylen Clark (2023) and Adem Bona (2024).
Over each of the past four seasons (2022-25), UCLA’s team has led its conference in scoring defense. Most recently, the Bruins limited the opposition to an average of 65.2 points per game among 18 programs in the Big Ten Conference in 2024-25. Previously, UCLA led the Pac-12 in scoring defense in 2022, 2023 and 2024. The Bruins also ranked among the national leaders in fewest turnovers committed per game. In 2022-23, UCLA ranked No. 15 in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (10.0). In 2021-22, the Bruins were No. 2 in that turnover stat category (8.9) and in 2020-21, the Bruins were No. 13.
UCLA’s 2024-25 team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after securing a top-four finish in the competitive Big Ten. Tyler Bilodeau was honored as a third-team All-Big Ten selection, and the Bruins closed their season with 12 wins over the final 17 games. UCLA ranked No. 7 nationally in turnover margin (+4.6) and No. 16 in turnovers forced per game (15.1). The Bruins led all Big Ten program in steals per game (8.1).
The Bruins’ 2022-23 team went 31-6 and won the Pac-12 regular-season title for the first time since 2013. UCLA went 18-2 in the Pac-12 play, limiting the opposition to an average of 60.7 points per game. UCLA held its opponents to 40.8 percent shooting, the lowest opposing percentage by any Bruins’ team since 1972-73 (at 39.6 percent). In addition, the Bruins limited the opposition to 31.1 percent shooting from 3-point range, the second-lowest percentage against UCLA since the introduction of the 3-point line in 1986-87. For the second straight season, UCLA finished second in the Pac-12 in scoring offense (74.1 ppg in 2022-23, and 75.4 ppg in 2021-22).
Jaquez Jr. was honored as the Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2023, becoming UCLA’s first such selection since Kevin Love as a freshman in 2008. He earned consensus second-team All-America honors and earned the Lute Olson National Player of the Year Award (by CollegeInsider.com). Clark was honored as the Naismith Men’s Defensive Player of the Year, the NABC’s Defensive Player of the Year and the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Bona was named the 2023 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
UCLA went 27-8 in 2021-22, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the second straight season. The Bruins went 15-5 in Pac-12 play, finishing in second place. The 2021-22 team became UCLA’s first to lead the Pac-12 in scoring defense (64.5 ppg) since the Bruins’ 1973-74 squad.
In 2020-21, Palmer helped the Bruins to a 22-10 overall record and a 13-6 mark in the Pac-12. UCLA opened its Pac-12 schedule with eight consecutive wins, the program’s best conference start since opening with a 9-0 record in 1982-83 (in Pac-10 play). UCLA finished in fourth place in the Pac-12, behind a trio of NCAA Tournament-bound teams (Oregon, USC and Colorado).
In 2019-20, the Bruins manufactured a substantial mid-season turnaround in Palmer’s first year on UCLA’s coaching staff. UCLA went 19-12 overall and won 11 of its final 14 games before the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly ended the college basketball season. The Bruins secured the No. 2 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament, having gone 12-6 in league play. Chris Smith was named the 2020 Pac-12 Most Improved Player of the Year as a junior, securing first-team all-league recognition.
In 2018-19, Palmer helped guide San Diego State to a 21-13 overall record and an 11-7 mark in the Mountain West Conference. The Aztecs advanced to the championship game of the Mountain West Conference Tournament, having twice defeated top-15-ranked Nevada in the season’s final four weeks.
During his 11 seasons on staff at Long Beach State (2007-08 through 2017-18), Palmer guided the 49ers to one NCAA Tournament appearance (2012) and three NIT berths (2011, 2013 and 2016). Long Beach State claimed three Big West Conference regular-season titles (2011, 2012 and 2013).
Palmer helped Long Beach State compile a record of 114-64 in Big West action, through 11 seasons (.640 winning percentage). He also saw Long Beach State produce three Big West Player of the Year selections and 14 first-team all-conference performers.
Among several of the notable student-athletes who Palmer recruited and coached while at Long Beach State included James Ennis, Casper Ware, Mike Caffey, Justin Bibbins and Larry Anderson. Bibbins spent his final collegiate season excelling at Utah, where he earned All-Pac-12 Team acclaim. Ennis secured Big West Player of the Year honors at Long Beach State in 2013, was drafted that season by the Atlanta Hawks and later emerged in the Detroit Pistons’ starting lineup (2017-18). Ware was a two-time Big West Player of the Year (2011, 2012) and spent time with the Philadelphia 76ers. Caffey was a three-time All-Big West Team selection, while Bibbins was a two-time All-Big West Team honoree. Anderson was named the Big West Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2012.
Palmer spent seven seasons as head coach at Centennial High School in Compton (2000-2007). As the head coach at Centennial, Palmer led the Apaches to the 2004 CIF Division III State Championship, while his 2002 squad was a state finalist. He served as head coach for future UCLA standout Arron Afflalo, who was a McDonald’s All-America selection in 2004, in addition to securing CalHi Sports All-State honors and CIF-SS Division III co-Player of the Year acclaim. Afflalo starred at UCLA (2004-05 through 2006-07) and was a first-round NBA Draft selection in June 2007 by the Detroit Pistons, before excelling in the NBA for 11 seasons.
Palmer’s teams at Centennial won the CIF Division III Southern Regional Championship in 2002 and 2004, while his 2006 squad captured the CIF Division III-A Championship. Prior to coaching at Centennial, Palmer served as head coach at Compton High School for seven seasons (1993-00). Two of his former players at Centennial realized their NBA dreams in 2007. Afflalo was selected by the Detroit Pistons as the No. 27 overall pick, while Gabe Pruitt was chosen in the second round by the Boston Celtics.
Centennial’s 2004 state championship team was led by Afflalo, who scored 24 points and added five rebounds in a 60-36 victory against Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) in the state title game.
Palmer also coached two players at Compton High that ended up getting selected in the NBA Draft – Jeff Trepagnier in 2001 (by the Cleveland Cavaliers) and Tito Maddox in 2002 (by the Houston Rockets).
Through 14 seasons as a high school coach, Palmer guided his teams to eight CIF section title games (including six consecutive), three Southern Regional championship games, two Southern Regional championships, two state final games and one Division III state title. He sent over 25 players to NCAA Division I schools on basketball scholarships.
Palmer earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from UC Irvine in 1990 and later received his teaching credential-secondary in social science from Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2004. He is a member of the Black Coaches Association.
Palmer prepped at Dominguez High School and was a two-time All-CIF guard before earning a scholarship to play at UCLA. He competed for the Bruins in 1985-86 (25 games) and in 1986-87 (21 games) before transferring to UC Irvine. While at Dominguez High School, he secured first-team All-America honors from the National High School Athletic Coaches Association and earned honorable mention acclaim from USA Today.
Palmer, 58, and his wife, Sherell, have three children – two daughters, Erin and Shevae, and one son, Joshua. Palmer’s sister, Violet Palmer, was the first female referee in the NBA and retired in 2016.
Palmer has coached in the Southern California region for the past 32 years, both at the high school and college levels. He has spent the previous six seasons at UCLA, and he coached at San Diego State in 2018-19. Prior to his time at UCLA and SDSU, Palmer spent 11 years as an assistant coach at Long Beach State, including the final four seasons as the program’s associate head coach.
Through six seasons at UCLA, Palmer has played a major role in guiding the Bruins to four NCAA Tournaments, including a Final Four trip in 2021. After advancing from the First Four to the Final Four in 2021, UCLA made back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances in 2022 and 2023. The Bruins advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2025. In addition, UCLA won the Pac-12 regular-season title in 2023, marking the program’s first regular-season league title since 2013. The Bruins finished in second place in the Pac-12 standings in 2019-20 and 2021-22. Head coach Mick Cronin was honored as the Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2020 and 2023. In addition, UCLA has tallied a record of 38-23 in games decided by five points or fewer (including any games that extended to overtime).
In Palmer’s first five years at UCLA, the Bruins' program had six players secure first-team All-Pac-12 acclaim – Adem Bona (2024), Tyger Campbell (2021, 2022, 2023), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (2022, 2023), Johnny Juzang (2022) and Chris Smith (2020). Over the past four seasons, UCLA has totaled seven selections on the conference All-Defensive Team, moving into the Big Ten in 2024-25. Kobe Johnson secured Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors in 2025. The Bruins' Pac-12 All-Defensive Team selections included Adem Bona in 2024, Bona and Jaylen Clark in 2023, and Clark, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Myles Johnson in 2022. Clark (2023) and Bona (2024) were named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons.
UCLA produced five NBA Draft selections over a three-year stretch from 2022-24. That included a pair of first-round picks in Peyton Watson in 2022 (Denver Nuggets) and Jaime Jaquez Jr. in 2023 (Miami Heat). The three second-round selections included Amari Bailey (2023), Jaylen Clark (2023) and Adem Bona (2024).
Over each of the past four seasons (2022-25), UCLA’s team has led its conference in scoring defense. Most recently, the Bruins limited the opposition to an average of 65.2 points per game among 18 programs in the Big Ten Conference in 2024-25. Previously, UCLA led the Pac-12 in scoring defense in 2022, 2023 and 2024. The Bruins also ranked among the national leaders in fewest turnovers committed per game. In 2022-23, UCLA ranked No. 15 in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (10.0). In 2021-22, the Bruins were No. 2 in that turnover stat category (8.9) and in 2020-21, the Bruins were No. 13.
UCLA’s 2024-25 team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after securing a top-four finish in the competitive Big Ten. Tyler Bilodeau was honored as a third-team All-Big Ten selection, and the Bruins closed their season with 12 wins over the final 17 games. UCLA ranked No. 7 nationally in turnover margin (+4.6) and No. 16 in turnovers forced per game (15.1). The Bruins led all Big Ten program in steals per game (8.1).
The Bruins’ 2022-23 team went 31-6 and won the Pac-12 regular-season title for the first time since 2013. UCLA went 18-2 in the Pac-12 play, limiting the opposition to an average of 60.7 points per game. UCLA held its opponents to 40.8 percent shooting, the lowest opposing percentage by any Bruins’ team since 1972-73 (at 39.6 percent). In addition, the Bruins limited the opposition to 31.1 percent shooting from 3-point range, the second-lowest percentage against UCLA since the introduction of the 3-point line in 1986-87. For the second straight season, UCLA finished second in the Pac-12 in scoring offense (74.1 ppg in 2022-23, and 75.4 ppg in 2021-22).
Jaquez Jr. was honored as the Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2023, becoming UCLA’s first such selection since Kevin Love as a freshman in 2008. He earned consensus second-team All-America honors and earned the Lute Olson National Player of the Year Award (by CollegeInsider.com). Clark was honored as the Naismith Men’s Defensive Player of the Year, the NABC’s Defensive Player of the Year and the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Bona was named the 2023 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
UCLA went 27-8 in 2021-22, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the second straight season. The Bruins went 15-5 in Pac-12 play, finishing in second place. The 2021-22 team became UCLA’s first to lead the Pac-12 in scoring defense (64.5 ppg) since the Bruins’ 1973-74 squad.
In 2020-21, Palmer helped the Bruins to a 22-10 overall record and a 13-6 mark in the Pac-12. UCLA opened its Pac-12 schedule with eight consecutive wins, the program’s best conference start since opening with a 9-0 record in 1982-83 (in Pac-10 play). UCLA finished in fourth place in the Pac-12, behind a trio of NCAA Tournament-bound teams (Oregon, USC and Colorado).
In 2019-20, the Bruins manufactured a substantial mid-season turnaround in Palmer’s first year on UCLA’s coaching staff. UCLA went 19-12 overall and won 11 of its final 14 games before the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly ended the college basketball season. The Bruins secured the No. 2 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament, having gone 12-6 in league play. Chris Smith was named the 2020 Pac-12 Most Improved Player of the Year as a junior, securing first-team all-league recognition.
In 2018-19, Palmer helped guide San Diego State to a 21-13 overall record and an 11-7 mark in the Mountain West Conference. The Aztecs advanced to the championship game of the Mountain West Conference Tournament, having twice defeated top-15-ranked Nevada in the season’s final four weeks.
During his 11 seasons on staff at Long Beach State (2007-08 through 2017-18), Palmer guided the 49ers to one NCAA Tournament appearance (2012) and three NIT berths (2011, 2013 and 2016). Long Beach State claimed three Big West Conference regular-season titles (2011, 2012 and 2013).
Palmer helped Long Beach State compile a record of 114-64 in Big West action, through 11 seasons (.640 winning percentage). He also saw Long Beach State produce three Big West Player of the Year selections and 14 first-team all-conference performers.
Among several of the notable student-athletes who Palmer recruited and coached while at Long Beach State included James Ennis, Casper Ware, Mike Caffey, Justin Bibbins and Larry Anderson. Bibbins spent his final collegiate season excelling at Utah, where he earned All-Pac-12 Team acclaim. Ennis secured Big West Player of the Year honors at Long Beach State in 2013, was drafted that season by the Atlanta Hawks and later emerged in the Detroit Pistons’ starting lineup (2017-18). Ware was a two-time Big West Player of the Year (2011, 2012) and spent time with the Philadelphia 76ers. Caffey was a three-time All-Big West Team selection, while Bibbins was a two-time All-Big West Team honoree. Anderson was named the Big West Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2012.
Palmer spent seven seasons as head coach at Centennial High School in Compton (2000-2007). As the head coach at Centennial, Palmer led the Apaches to the 2004 CIF Division III State Championship, while his 2002 squad was a state finalist. He served as head coach for future UCLA standout Arron Afflalo, who was a McDonald’s All-America selection in 2004, in addition to securing CalHi Sports All-State honors and CIF-SS Division III co-Player of the Year acclaim. Afflalo starred at UCLA (2004-05 through 2006-07) and was a first-round NBA Draft selection in June 2007 by the Detroit Pistons, before excelling in the NBA for 11 seasons.
Palmer’s teams at Centennial won the CIF Division III Southern Regional Championship in 2002 and 2004, while his 2006 squad captured the CIF Division III-A Championship. Prior to coaching at Centennial, Palmer served as head coach at Compton High School for seven seasons (1993-00). Two of his former players at Centennial realized their NBA dreams in 2007. Afflalo was selected by the Detroit Pistons as the No. 27 overall pick, while Gabe Pruitt was chosen in the second round by the Boston Celtics.
Centennial’s 2004 state championship team was led by Afflalo, who scored 24 points and added five rebounds in a 60-36 victory against Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) in the state title game.
Palmer also coached two players at Compton High that ended up getting selected in the NBA Draft – Jeff Trepagnier in 2001 (by the Cleveland Cavaliers) and Tito Maddox in 2002 (by the Houston Rockets).
Through 14 seasons as a high school coach, Palmer guided his teams to eight CIF section title games (including six consecutive), three Southern Regional championship games, two Southern Regional championships, two state final games and one Division III state title. He sent over 25 players to NCAA Division I schools on basketball scholarships.
Palmer earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from UC Irvine in 1990 and later received his teaching credential-secondary in social science from Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2004. He is a member of the Black Coaches Association.
Palmer prepped at Dominguez High School and was a two-time All-CIF guard before earning a scholarship to play at UCLA. He competed for the Bruins in 1985-86 (25 games) and in 1986-87 (21 games) before transferring to UC Irvine. While at Dominguez High School, he secured first-team All-America honors from the National High School Athletic Coaches Association and earned honorable mention acclaim from USA Today.
Palmer, 58, and his wife, Sherell, have three children – two daughters, Erin and Shevae, and one son, Joshua. Palmer’s sister, Violet Palmer, was the first female referee in the NBA and retired in 2016.
UCLA M. Basketball Media Availability - Players (Aug. 26, 2025)
Tuesday, August 26
UCLA M. Basketball Media Availability - Coach Cronin (Aug. 26, 2025)
Tuesday, August 26
UCLA M. Basketball Postgame - vs. Tennessee (March 22, 2025)
Saturday, March 22
UCLA M. Basketball Press Conference – Players (March 21, 2025)
Friday, March 21
