James Palmer
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- Title:
- Assistant Coach
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- Email:
- palmer@lakeforest.edu
James Palmer is in his ninth season on the Forester coaching staff. He has helped lead Lake Forest to a 115-69-28 record, two Northern Collegiate Hockey Association championships, and an NCAA Division III Tournament appearance during his first eight years with the team. He is in his second season working primaily with the team’s goaltenders after also directing the defensemen in the past.
Lake Forest has ranked among the top 25 in the country in scoring defense in seven of Palmer’s first eight seasons. Six players directly under his direction have earned All-NCHA honors a combined eight times and Courtney Bean was the program’s first All-American defenseman in 2009-10.
Both of the Foresters’ goaltenders ranked among the top 10 in the nation in winning percentage during the 2013-14 season. They stopped at least 90 percent of opponent shots on goal 14 times on the year.
Palmer’s coaching experience began at age 13 when he volunteered to help out with youth teams, something he continued to do throughout high school. He has also served as an instructor and counselor at numerous hockey camps.
Palmer began playing hockey at age four and, as a goaltender in high school, he earned Second Team All-State honors and his team reached the Final Four of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Tournament. He walked on at NCAA Division I Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and received the program’s Henry Krumpf Award.
