School: Mallard Creek High School
Location: Charlotte, N.C.
Career Highlights: Palmieri has built Mallard Creek's football program from the ground up and quickly made it one of the best in North Carolina. In the school's first year in 2007, he guided a team full of underclassmen to a 1-10 record. Since then, the Mavericks have won I-MECK 4A Conference championships in 2009 and 2010, gone undefeated in conference play in 2010 and been nationally ranked in 2009 and 2010.
Community Service: While still living in Florida, Palmieri flew back and forth to Charlotte to attend perspective student nights and booster club meetings, becoming a spokesperson for Mallard Creek before a football program even existed.
Quote: Mallard Creek High School Athletic Director Karen McKaig said Palmieri "created a Mallard Creek identity in the players before the school even started, making them wear all gray and navy clothes to workouts....His confidence and pride carried over to the team, students and the whole community. Coach Palmieri and his team have been the catalyst for our school's newfound spirit as well as the community beyond the school."
