Santa Margarita's Carson Palmer named ALL-USA West Coach of the Year

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Carson Palmer’s selection as the ALL‑USA West Football Coach of the Year feels less like a surprise and more like the natural culmination of a remarkable, redemptive season.

In his first year leading Santa Margarita Catholic High School, the former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 NFL Draft pick guided his alma mater to an 11–3 record and a CIF Open Division state championship, a run that included dominant wins over national powers Corona Centennial, Orange Lutheran, Mater Dei, Sierra Canyon and ultimately De La Salle in a 47–13 title‑game rout.

The team finished third in the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 football rankings.

Palmer’s accomplishment was even more noteworthy because he helped turn around a program that had faced misconduct allegations in 2024.

Palmer inherited that uncertainty and immediately began reshaping the culture. His NFL‑caliber staff, highlighted by former teammate T.J. Houshmandzadeh, brought credibility. His decision to retain defensive coordinator Steve Fifita, who had served as interim coach after Anthony Rouzier’s departure the year before, provided continuity for a defense returning nine starters.

The results were undeniable. Santa Margarita became one of the most complete teams in the country, pairing a ferocious defensive front with the explosive brilliance of USC‑bound star Trent Mosley, who delivered one postseason masterpiece after another. By December, the Eagles weren’t just winning, they were overwhelming opponents.

For Palmer, the journey back to Santa Margarita was deeply personal. A two‑time state champion as a player, he went on to win the Heisman at USC before a 15‑year NFL career that included three Pro Bowls and more than 46,000 passing yards. Coaching high school football wasn’t a retirement hobby, it was a return to the place that shaped him. “It’s been an unreal year from start to finish,” he said after the championship win, according to Yahoo Sports.

Along with the Coaches of the Year from the other four regions, Palmer is a finalist for the national ALL-USA Football Team Coach of the Year Award. That honor will be announced on Dec. 30.

The West region includes athletes and coaches from Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: Santa Margarita’s Carson Palmer is ALL-USA West Coach of the Year

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