Davis & Elkins College baseball head coach Ronnie Palmer is entering his sixth season with the Senators and looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2011-2012 year. With a solid crop of returning players and a talented group of newcomers, the Senator Hardballers hope to get back to championship form this year.

“We are really looking forward to stepping on the field and getting the process going,” stated Palmer. “Our effort, both on and off the field, will be vital to our productivity each day. We want to make sure we are focused on winning the day and getting most out of each opportunity we have to get better.”

  “As long as your philosophy is sound, then you need to stick with it and be patient,” Palmer said. “Everybody may think we are crazy because we want to build a conference, regional, and nationally competitive program and assemble it the right way at D&E. We will start with quality student athletes who will take a chance on a program trying to turn the corner. A program that will have a blue collar attitude and work hard for what we want. The program is going to head in the right direction; we want to instill a winning attitude that will feed off itself, with players coming in and picking up on the goals we have set, and the direction we are moving.”

  Palmer went on to say, “It’s exciting to be back at Davis & Elkins College, this is a special place for me. This is the place where I played college baseball and received my Bachelors Degree. Davis & Elkins now has given me my first head coaching opportunity at the 4 year level. With this being said, it’s the people that make this place wonderful, from the players and coaches and the athletic department, to the professors, students and staff, everybody is just so supportive of the baseball program and athletics programs as a whole. It’s these types of individuals that drew me back to Elkins.” 

  Palmer began his playing career at Hagerstown Community College, Maryland, playing the corners during the 1995 and 1996 seasons garnering all Region Honors and Pre Season All American mention heading into the 1996 season. He then finished his playing career at Davis & Elkins College through 1997 and 1998 season. In 1997 Palmer made the All Conference team. But the 1998 season was a special one for the corner infielder, as he set a school record for Homeruns in a season with 16 and at the time a school record for RBI’s in a season with 45. Palmer went on to be named the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conferences Player of the Year and Hitter of Year, First Team All North Atlantic Region Division 2 and was an All American Candidate.

  After his playing days, Palmer began his coaching career at his Alma Mater Davis & Elkins College, where he spent one year as an assistant working with hitters and outfielders. He then moved to Bowie State University, in Maryland as an assistant for a year, working with hitters and infielders. This was followed by a two year stint as an assistant at West Hills Community College in California working with hitters, outfielders and coaching third base during games. This led him to Salem Community College where he was the head coach for four years.

Palmer and his wife Corinne have a son Owen, a daughter Caleigh and their beloved dog Coach. The Palmer family resides in Elkins, WV.

Coach Palmer can be reached at the following:

Email:  palmerr@dewv.edu

Phone: 304.637.1342