Harford Tech Football Coach Named Ravens Coach Of Year

BEL AIR, MD — The football coach at Harford Technical High School has been named the 2017 High School Coach of the Year by the Baltimore Ravens. The Cobras ended the season with a 12-1 record and made it to the state semifinals in the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association. It was the first time in school history that the team was undefeated in the regular season.

It was also the first year for head coach Timothy Palmer at the helm of the varsity team. Previously, he had coached JV and was a little league football coach.

"For me, my purpose as a coach is to build young men – not winning or losing football games,” Palmer told the BaltimoreRavens.com. "Football is simply the vehicle I use to do this. I am big on character, discipline and doing things the right way, and when you combine that with athleticism and talent, the wins will come."

While Palmer said that he shared in the success with the team, he did not take credit for it.

"This year, we had quality coaches teaching quality young men, and the wins followed," Palmer said. "That’s the formula I’ve used since I began coaching little league football years ago, and it’s been powerful to see the results in the win column and in life as the boys grow into productive men."

Since Palmer was honored as the 2017 Ravens High School Coach of the Year, the Baltimore Ravens donated $4,000 toward the football program at Harford Tech.

Palmer, who works as a Baltimore Police sergeant when he's not coaching football, was presented with his recognition at the Ravens-Colts game on Dec. 23 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. He will also be given the opportunity to attend January's 2018 Pro Bowl in Orlando, where he will be nominated for the NFL High School Coach of the Year Award.

In addition to the Ravens recognition, Palmer was named the Varsity Sports Network's coach of the year. In an interview with the network, he said that his name was on the award but it was the team that deserved the recognition.

"There are a lot of great athletes in Harford County," Palmer said, noting that Harford Tech draws students from around the county for its specialized program.

The Cobras roster was made of "great football players with high IQs" who were "unselfish" in the way they played, Palmer said, putting the needs of the team before their desires for personal yardage. The players spent a significant amount of time in the classroom, said Palmer, and "it showed on the field."

Watch Coach Palmer's interview with Varsity Sports Network:

Still of Coach Timothy Palmer from VSNTV/YouTube.