RIVERSIDE, Calif.  – University of California, Riverside Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Wesley Mallette, announced today that Nikki Palmer will be leaving her post as head softball coach to accept the same position at her alma mater, the University of California, San Diego.
 
Named the seventh head coach in UC Riverside softball history in September of 2016, Palmer led UC Riverside for seven seasons, and was the fastest UCR softball coach to reach 100 wins. She crossed a pair of milestones in 2023, becoming the program's all-time winningest head coach and collecting career win number 200.  
 
In her seven years at the helm, Palmer has coached 32 All-Big West honorees (six first team), four Big West All-Freshman honorees, four All-Region selections and the 2018 Big West Defensive Player of the Year in Hannah Rodriguez. 
 
"I want to thank Coach Palmer for all that she has done for our softball program at UCR," Mallette said. "Nikki has been an integral member of our Athletics family and has made a lasting impact on our program. We wish her the very best as she goes on to coach her alma mater." 
 
A national search for the softball head coach position will begin immediately.