Rod Palmer brings a deep Southern California coaching pedigree to the UCLA men's basketball staff, entering his seventh season as an assistant coach at UCLA for 2025–26. Since arriving in May 2019 after a long career at Long Beach State and San Diego State, he has helped the Bruins compile a six-season record of 138-64 and contributed to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances including a Final Four run in 2021. His recruiting and development work have helped UCLA achieve strong defensive identity, low turnover rates and consistent performance in close games.
Prior to UCLA, Palmer spent 11 seasons at Long Beach State as an assistant (including four as associate head coach) and one season at San Diego State. Before his collegiate coaching career, Palmer amassed 14 seasons as a high school head coach in Southern California, guiding Compton High School and Centennial High School to CIF section and state-championship success. A native of Los Angeles, he played for the Bruins in 1985-87 before transferring to UC Irvine, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1990.
