LA JOLLA, Calif. – Nikki Palmer, currently the head coach at UC Riverside and UC San Diego alumna, has been named the new head coach of the UC San Diego softball program by Director of Athletics Earl W. Edwards.
 
"I'm thrilled and honored to become the Head Coach at UC San Diego. It's a dream come true to lead the Tritons and uphold their legacy of success. I'm deeply grateful to the hiring committee, Director of Athletics Earl W. Edwards, and everyone at UC San Diego for this incredible opportunity," Palmer said.
 
Palmer becomes the 12th coach in program history, taking over a Triton squad which recently completed its four-year NCAA reclassification period from Division II to Division I with 14 All-Big West selections, a Big West pitcher of the year, and three NFCA All-Region selections.
 
"We are excited to welcome Nikki Palmer back home to UC San Diego," said Director of Athletics Earl W. Edwards. "The coaching experience she has gained both in The Big West and internationally along with her proven track record of recruiting success will serve us well. Nikki had an impressive career as a Triton scholar-athlete during a period of sustained success in our program's history, and is very familiar with our culture and mission."
 
In her eight seasons at the helm of UCR, Palmer became the winningest head coach in program history in 2023 and tallied her 200th career-win in the same season. Out of her eight seasons, Palmer holds five of the winningest seasons on the top 10 list. The UC San Diego alumna takes over for her former head coach Patti Gerckens, who led the Tritons for over 30 seasons.

"I also want to thank Athletic Director Wes Mallette, support staff, and the athletes at UC Riverside for their support during my 8 years with the Highlanders. Returning to UC San Diego feels like coming home, and I'm excited to contribute to Triton Athletics' ongoing success," Palmer said. "Together, we'll aim for excellence both on and off the field, inspiring our scholar-athletes to excel. A special thanks to the countless alumni whose unwavering love and support for UC San Diego softball has been evident throughout this journey."
 
Palmer returns to La Jolla following a solid stint at UC Riverside and prior to that three seasons at Utah Valley. In the Big West, Palmer has coached 13 All-Big West honorees (five First Team), three Big West All-Freshman honorees, four All-Region selections and the 2018 Big West Defensive Player of the Year in Hannah Rodriguez. 
 
At Utah Valley, Palmer made history in her first season with the Wolverines when she led them to a WAC Tournament Championship and UVU's first postseason berth for any sport in the school's NCAA era. Setting multiple records and earning several notable wins across various conferences, Palmer also had 13 student-athletes named to the Academic All-WAC team.
 
The Temecula native comes to La Jolla with international experience as well as she is the current national head coach for Team Israel. Palmer led Israel to a fourth-place finish in a field of 17 at the 2021 Women's European Championship in Italy.
 
Graduating in June 2007 from UC San Diego, Palmer was a double major in Sociology and Communications, she remained on campus as a volunteer assistant coach for a season in 2008 after playing four years as a letter winning catcher for Gerckens.
 
Joining Palmer in La Jolla, are her wife, Lindsay, and their two sons Jensen and Hendrix.
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media.