Former UVa All-American Wendy Palmer Named Head Coach at UNC Greensboro

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GREENSBORO, N.C. – Wendy Palmer, a former All-American and two-time Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year at Virginia, has been hired as the new women’s basketball coach at UNC Greensboro, Spartans’ Director of Athletics Kim Record announced Tuesday (April 19).

Palmer is an 11-year WNBA veteran and was an assistant coach at UVa from 2009-11. She replaces longtime UNCG coach Lynne Agee, who retired in March after 30 years at the helm for the Spartans.

“This position is a tremendous opportunity, and I am thrilled that Chancellor (Linda) Brady and Kim Record have chosen me to lead the women’s basketball program,” Palmer said. “I am happy to come back home and am honored to be a part of such a rich legacy of excellence in academics and women’s basketball. This is an extraordinary opportunity with unique challenges; I bring my passion, experience, knowledge and energy to help the Spartans compete for championships. My staff and I will work hard and smart to make the UNCG family proud on and off the court.”

While on staff at Virginia, Palmer helped recruit and sign a class ranked in the top 15 nationally by ESPN HoopGurlz and coached consensus first-team All-American and WBCA National Defensive Player of the Year Monica Wright. During Palmer’s tenure on the sidelines, Virginia participated in one NCAA Tournament (2010) and reached the quarterfinals of the WNIT in 2011.

Palmer was an assistant for two years at Kentucky prior to returning to Virginia. At Kentucky, she coached All-American Victoria Dunlap, who was taken 11th overall in the 2011 WNBA Draft.

While still playing professionally, Palmer began her coaching career as an assistant coach at Virginia Commonwealth. She was selected by the WNBA’s Utah Starzz in the second round of the 1997 Elite Draft and also spent time with the Detroit Shock, Orlando Miracle, Connecticut Sun, San Antonio Silver Stars and the Seattle Storm.

In 11 WNBA seasons, she averaged 10.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, including 6.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in five playoff games.

Palmer is a 1996 graduate of Virginia and was a Kodak All-American in 1995 and 1996. She became the first women’s player in Virginia history to record more than 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds and still holds the all-time record for career rebounds (1,221).

Palmer was a three-time All-ACC first-team selection and was the third player in league history to earn two-straight ACC Player of the Year awards.

A native of Timberlake, N.C., Palmer received her bachelor’s degree from UVa in history.