Hayden Palmer Returns to BYU as Assistant Coach
Hayden Palmer has returned to his alma mater BYU as an assistant coach, the school announced on Monday.
Palmer began his career in Provo in 2009, concluding in 2015 after a two-year mission in Samoa. The 2010 Mountain West 400 individual medley champion added the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title in that event in 2015. An eight-time all-conference honoree, he represented BYU at the NCAA Championships in 2014 in both IM distances.
“Hayden was an elite BYU athlete who competed in everything we asked him to,” head coach Shari Skabelund said in a team statement. “He brings energy, teaching expertise and great organizational skills to our staff. We are so excited to have him.”
Palmer earned all-conference recognition in the 400 IM (three times), the 200 IM (twice), the 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly and 400 freestyle relay. He led the Cougars to MPSF team titles in 2014 and 2015.
The native of Moreno Valley, Calif., won three CIF titles in high school. He swam at Riverside Aquatics Association.
After his swim career at BYU, he began coaching as an assistant at Timpview High School in Provo in 2015-16. He rose to the college ranks at the University of La Verne in California as a graduate assistant and two years as a volunteer assistant at BYU. Palmer received a bachelor’s degree in physical education teaching and coaching in 2016.