Shattuck-St. Mary's Girls Soccer COE Announces Addition of Morgan Palmer as Assistant Coach

Palmer will assist Head Coach Matt Ball with all facets of the program including scouting, recruiting, game and practice preparation, as well as day-to-day operations in the office.

Athletic Director Michele Cornish shared her excitement about bringing in Palmer. “We are thrilled to have someone of Morgan’s caliber coaching in our Girls Soccer COE,” said Cornish. “She has experienced individual and team successes at the highest levels of girls and women's soccer throughout her entire career and her experience will help our players continue to develop both on and off the field. I have no doubt that she will create an inclusive and competitive environment where talent can evolve and thrive both technically and tactically."

Palmer comes to SSM after a prolific playing career that included stints at the NCAA Division I, professional, and international levels. Palmer began her collegiate career at the University of Notre Dame, where she was named the ACC Freshman of the Year and was voted Second-Team All-ACC both her freshman and sophomore seasons. After transferring to the University of Southern California, Palmer continued to find success, leading the Trojans in goals (12) and points (28) as a junior en route to being named a Second-Team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

As a senior, Palmer helped USC capture its second NCAA National Championship in 2016 after finishing tied for the team-lead with 10 goals on the year.  Following graduation, Palmer was drafted third overall by the Boston Breakers in the 2017 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) draft. She played five seasons in the NWSL for the Breakers and the OL Reign. She also spent one season with the Perth Glory of the W-League in Australia. Palmer was also a mainstay in the US Soccer Youth National Team pool, participating in various international tournaments, friendlies, and camps for the U-15, U-17, U-20 and U-23 national teams.

After hanging up her boots, Palmer is looking forward to helping develop the next generation of women’s soccer players. “I am beyond excited to become a part of the SSM community,” said Palmer. “The culture of excellence both academically and athletically truly sets this program apart from the rest. I look forward to working with Matt and his vision for a successful future for the program. Building on the potential this team has is an exciting opportunity to share what I’ve learned from a player’s perspective. I look forward to impacting the growth of player and team development by implementing what I’ve learned during my years of playing at a high level.”

To learn more about Shattuck-St. Mary’s Girls Soccer Center of Excellence, please visit SSM Girls Soccer online. Girls interested in joining the program can express their interest by filling out an inquiry form here.

About Shattuck-St. Mary’s School

Shattuck-St. Mary’s School is a world-class college preparatory boarding and day school for students in grades 6-PG located in Faribault, Minnesota. SSM delivers a rigorous academic curriculum that blends the best of traditional education with innovative, creative learning opportunities for students around the world who want to pursue their passions in academics, the arts, or athletics. Discover more at s-sm.org.