Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin today named Chris Palmer as the team¹s offensive coordinator. Palmer, who will also coach the quarterbacks, replaces Kevin Gilbride, who was named head coach of the San Diego Chargers last month, in the first change of Coughlin¹s coaching staff.
"I¹m extremely excited about the opportunity to work with the Jaguars," Palmer said.
"It¹s an explosive offense which was very successful this season. I look forward to blending in with the coaching staff and getting to work."
"Chris has great credentials. He¹s an outstanding coach who has been involved in the passing game," said Coughlin. "Last week at the Pro Bowl, Drew Bledsoe raved about Chris. We¹re excited to have him here."
Coughlin added that Palmer will join the Jaguars¹ coaching staff this week at the Indianapolis combine.
Palmer, 47, has coached in the NFL for seven years. In 1996, he was the quarterbacks coach of the New England Patriots, who played in Super Bowl XXXI, and he was responsible for tutoring Drew Bledsoe, who led the NFL in passing attempts and completions while being named to the Pro Bowl. Palmer had previously served as the Patriots¹ receivers coach from 1993 to ¹95 and was the receivers coach for the Houston Oilers from 1990 to ¹92.
A native of Mount Kisco, New York, Palmer was a college quarterback at Southern Connecticut State, where he earned both his bachelor¹s and master¹s degrees. He started his coaching career at Connecticut in 1972, and was also an assistant at Lehigh and Colgate. He coached in 1983 with the Montreal Concordes of the CFL and in 1984-85 with the New Jersey Generals of the USFL. In 1986, Palmer was named head coach at New Haven, and his teams finished 8-2 in both of his seasons while setting records for consecutive wins and points in a season. In 1988 he became head coach at Boston University, where he produced one of the country¹s most exciting offenses. In 1989, the Terriers ranked 10th in the NCAA in total offense. His two teams at Boston University both went 4-7. Palmer moved into the NFL in 1990 as an assistant with the Houston Oilers, working under Kevin Gilbride.
Palmer and his wife, Donna, have two children, Mark (19) and Kristin (16).
Chris Palmer¹s coaching career
1972-74 Connecticut Assistant coach
1975 Lehigh Wide receivers coach
1976-82 Colgate Offensive coordinator
1983 Montreal Concordes (CFL) Offensive line coach
1984 New Jersey Generals (USFL) Receivers coach
1985 New Jersey Generals (USFL) Offensive coordinator and
quarterbacks coach
1986-87 New Haven Head coach (Record: 16-4)
1988-89 Boston University Head coach (Record: 8-14)
1990-92 Houston Oilers Receivers coach
1993-95 New England Patriots Receivers coach
1996 New England Patriots Quarterbacks coach
