Entering his second full season with the Eagles, Bruce Palmbaum brings a wealth of coaching experience and a strong history of program turnarounds to Utah State University Eastern. With an overall collegiate coaching record of 85-63-12, Palmbaum has built programs through player development, competitive success and a commitment to academic excellence.
In his first season at USU Eastern, Palmbaum guided the team to a 10-5-2 record and a third-place finish in the SWAC. Before arriving in Price, he spent two seasons at Kansas Wesleyan University, leading the Coyotes to a 24-11-5 record. Under his leadership, Kansas Wesleyan made its first national tournament appearance in six years and received the NAIA Champion of Character Team award. Palmbaum helped orchestrate a dramatic turnaround, elevating the program from a No. 246 national ranking in 2022 to a top-30 position in 2024. He also placed a strong emphasis on academic achievement, overseeing 22 Daktronics Scholar-Athletes in 2024 while maintaining a 3.4 team GPA.
Palmbaum's coaching career spans several decades and includes positions at Stephens College, Northern Michigan University and the University of Tulsa, where he served as the head men's and women's coach. His coaching experience also extends to the professional and international levels, including a stint with the Reno Rattlers of the USISL and international academy coaching experience with Estudiantes de La Plata in Argentina.
As a player, Palmbaum competed collegiately at UCLA and the University of Oregon before continuing his playing career professionally both domestically and overseas. He holds a USSF "A" Coaching License along with international coaching certifications. Palmbaum earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and education from the University of Oregon and a Master of Arts degree in administration from the University of Tulsa.
Outside of coaching, Palmbaum enjoys skiing, snowboarding and fly fishing. His son currently serves as the men's assistant soccer coach at NCAA Division I Radford University in Virginia. Palmbaum brings his extensive coaching experience, passion for player development and commitment to building successful programs to USU Eastern.
