Palermo resigns position

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Stockstill announced today that assistant coach John Palermo is resigning his position effective immediately. Palermo has served the last two seasons as the Blue Raiders’ defensive line coach.

“I am at a point in my career where I would like to pursue some other opportunities,” said Palermo. “I am very appreciative of Coach Stockstill and Chris Massaro and the professionalism they have shown me since I arrived.”

Palermo made an immediate impact in his first season by leading a unit that combined for 22.5 sacks, 51.0 tackles for loss, and 20 quarterback sacks in 2010. He also tutored Jamari Lattimore, who was tabbed the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year and is currently with the Green Bay Packers.

A veteran of 37 years of coaching, Palermo was faced with the task of replacing all four starters in 2011 by using mainly freshmen and sophomores. Defensive end Omar McLendon went on to garner all-conference honors by two different media outlets.

“I am very grateful and appreciative of John and what he has done for the program the last two years,” said Stockstill. “He definitely made an impact in our program and did a nice job of developing our young defensive linemen. I think highly of him and wish him the very best.”

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