WEST HAVEN, Conn. – University of New Haven Director of Athletics Chris Palmer has announced his retirement effective June 30. Palmer came to the University in January of 2018 and during the last 18 months has presided over numerous facility upgrades including the addition of a long awaited restroom and concession building at Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium.
"I would like to thank each and every member of the Athletics staff for their hard work and dedication to our student-athletes," said Palmer. "This opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our student-athletes has been tremendous for me and I look forward to watching the continued growth of Charger Nation in the years to come."
In addition to the Changes at DellaCamera, under his leadership Kathy Zolad Stadium and Charger Gymnasium are in the process of receiving facelifts with the installation of new turf for the soccer and lacrosse programs and the construction of a new floor and bleacher system in Charger Gym.
A New Haven Athletics Hall of Famer, Palmer previously served as the University's football coach where he led the Chargers to back-to-back 8-2 seasons in 1986 and 1987 before taking over the reins at Boston University. All told, He amassed a 24-18 record on the collegiate level.
Palmer is best known for his 25 years of coaching in the NFL, while his entire coaching career totaled 40 years. Prior to being named the Director of Athletics last January, Palmer spent the 2015 and 2017 seasons as the Senior Offensive Assistant Coach with the Buffalo Bills. Prior to that, he spent time as part of the coaching staff's with the Houston Oilers, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans and the San Francisco 49ers. Additionally, Palmer served as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns for the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
A native of Brewster, New York, Palmer graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in 1972, after three seasons as the Owls quarterback. He was inducted into the New Haven Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997 and was a 2001 inductee in Southern Connecticut's Hall of Fame.
