Costa Mesa fires Coach Palmer

Kevin Palmer went out on a winning note with the Costa Mesa High boys’ basketball program.

With the football program, he didn’t.

Palmer is no longer the basketball coach and the football defensive coordinator at Costa Mesa. Athletic Director Patty Smith wrote in an e-mail that the school released Palmer after one basketball season and two and a half football seasons.

Under Palmer in basketball, the Mustangs finished 1-26, 1-8 in the Orange Coast League.

In Palmer’s final game, he led Costa Mesa to its lone victory.

“Finally we got one,” said Palmer back in February after beating Calvary Chapel, 38-36.

Costa Mesa now is looking to get another basketball coach.

The last coach avoided being the one to guide the Mustangs to their first winless season in school history.

Costa Mesa football coach Jeremy Osso said he lost Palmer the day before Thursday’s nonleague game at Irvine. The Mustangs lost, 42-7, falling to 0-3 on the season.

“Very much so [shocked],” said Osso of seeing Palmer, a walk on, get fired.

Osso said he did not know the reason behind Palmer being let go. He said Mike Van Der Weerd, the defensive line coach, will call the defensive plays.

On the basketball team, eight players most likely will return this winter. One of those is senior guard Mikey Molina.

The next Costa Mesa coach will be Molina’s fourth in high school. The past three have been Palmer, Jeff McDaniel and Ryan Schachter.

McDaniel and Schachter led the Mustangs to the CIF Southern Section Division III-A playoffs during their short stints.

McDaniel coached one year, going 17-11 during the 2006-07 season. He decided to get more involved with his church.

Schachter was a combined 35-20 during the 2004-05 to 2005-06 seasons. Back then, Schachter led Costa Mesa to its first playoff victory in 42 years and its second league title in 46 years.

He’s been coaching at CdM the last two seasons, winning a CIF Southern Section Division III-A championship and two Pacific Coast League titles during that time.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at [email protected].