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Former all-conference linebacker Ronnie Palmer is expected to be one of two new coaching hires this week. The other is Quinn Thomas, who last season served as a defensive quality control coach at Utah State. Both will serve as analysts/assistant coaches under Brent Brennan.

Palmer, a multiyear starter at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ from 2005-08, served as the head coach at Monterrey Peninsula College from 2020-24. MPC is a junior college in Monterey, California.

Palmer guided the Lobos to an 11-0 record last season, capped by a victory in the Northern California Football Conference American Division Championship Bowl. .

Palmer began his coaching career as a quality control coach at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in 2011. He made subsequent stops at Colorado State, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Northern Colorado.

Palmer compiled 275 tackles during his four-year playing career for the Wildcats, including 85 as a senior in 2008, when he earned All-Pac-10 accolades. Palmer also had 11 stops for a loss that season.

Palmer was a team captain for the ’08 squad, which went 8-5 under Mike Stoops and finished the season with a win over BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl — ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s first bowl appearance (and victory) in 10 years.

Palmer played for three seasons in the United Football League before starting his coaching career.

Palmer will work with a defensive staff that also includes associate head coach/defensive line coach Joe Salave’a, who returned to his alma mater in January. Salavea’s played for ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ from 1994-97.

Most of Thomas’ recent experience also came on the defensive side of the ball. He worked with defensive backs at Utah State after a brief stint at Marshall, where he worked under new UA offensive coordinator Seth Doege. Before that, Thomas spent three years as a defensive graduate assistant at New Mexico State.

Thomas played receiver at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio. He spent one season as a grad assistant there before joining the NMSU staff.

Thanks to a , analysts are now allowed to fully participate in on-field coaching activities. They are not permitted to recruit off campus.