MAC’s Briley Palmer to be next Redhawks WBB coach

Mineral Area College’s Briley Palmer has been hired to become the new head coach of the Southeast Missouri State women’s basketball team, as announced on Wednesday, May 15, by Brady Barke, SEMO vice president for intercollegiate athletics.

Palmer agreed to a five-year contract which will run through April 30, 2029. She will be the ninth head coach in program history after Rekha Patterson resigned to join Central Florida as an assistant coach.

Palmer is a native of Farmington, Missouri, and is entering her first Division I job after spending four seasons as the head coach of MAC, where she went 77-40. The Lady Cards went 25-5 last season and finished in second place in the Missouri Community College Athletic Conference. She was an assistant on the MAC staff for eight years before being named head coach.

Palmer previously played high school ball at Farmington High School, where she led the Knights to their first district championship, 24 straight wins, and a final-four appearance in the state tournament as a senior in 2007. She also played college ball at MAC and Christian Brothers University.

The Redhawks graduated seniors Chandler Davis, Julia Sion, and Michaela Mayfield. They also added transfers Rain Green from Kansas City, Jaela Johnson from Bellarmine, and Kennedy Claybrooks from Texas State. SEMO also recruited Zoe Best, who led Incarnate Word Academy to an undefeated 31-0 season and the Class 6 state championship.

Palmer will be formally introduced during a press conference scheduled for 11 a.m., at the Show Me Center on Thursday, May 16, and the public is invited to attend.