Story byTodd M. Adams, USA TODAY High School SportsWed, December 24, 2025 at 8:51 PM UTC·2 min readCarson Palmer’s selection as the ALL‑USA West Football Coach of the Year feels less like a surprise and more like the natural culmination of a remarkable, redemptive season. In his first year leading Santa Margarita Catholic High School, the former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 NFL Draft pick guided his alma mater to an 11–3 record and a CIF Open Division state championship, a run that included dominant wins over national powers Corona Centennial, Orange Lutheran, Mater Dei, Sierra Canyon and ultimately De La Salle in a 47–13 title‑game rout. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe team finished third in the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 football rankings. Palmer’s accomplishment was even more noteworthy because he helped turn around a program that had faced misconduct allegations in 2024. Palmer inherited that uncertainty and immediately began reshaping the culture.