Montclair State University Athletics

Mike Palazzo was named the eighth head coach in Montclair State Football history in November 2022. In just two seasons at the helm, he has re-energized the program, building a culture of accountability, success, and community impact.

In his debut season, Palazzo guided the Red Hawks to a 5-5 record, including a 4-2 mark in NJAC play. His team went 3-1 against New Jersey rivals, highlighted by a dominant 42-7 Homecoming victory over The College of New Jersey in 2023.

In 2025, Montclair State again finished 5-5 overall, including a 4-3 record in NJAC play. The Red Hawks closed the season strong, going 3-1 over the final four games and finishing 3-1 against New Jersey rivals.

Palazzo’s leadership has already produced standout results:

4 NJAC Players of the Year
• Including 2025 Roger Rubinetti

4 All-Americans
• Including Tom Smith – 2025

8 D3football.com All-Region selections since 2023
• Including Roger Rubinetti and Tom Smith – 2025

20 All-NJAC selections since 2023
• Including 9 honorees in 2025

16 CSC Academic All-District Football Team honorees
• Including 5 honorees in 2025

Before being named head coach, Palazzo served as Defensive Coordinator in 2022, where he led Montclair State to the #1 scoring defense in the NJAC — a unit that set the tone for the program’s resurgence.

In 2021, while completing his master’s degree, Palazzo served as an intern with the Army Football program, contributing to the Black Knights’ Armed Forces Bowl championship season.

Beyond wins and accolades, Palazzo is known for his commitment to creating meaningful experiences for his players and giving back to the community. He:

Founded the Breakfast Bowl vs. Rowan University, a game that raises awareness and support to fight food insecurity
Helped launch the inaugural Hinchliffe Classic — the first college football game played at historic Hinchliffe Stadium (Paterson, NJ) in over 80 years
Fundraised the program’s first international trip, allowing every player to travel free of charge to Ottawa, Canada, where the Red Hawks defeated the Ottawa Sooners 41-16 on May 16, 2025

A proud Montclair State alum, Palazzo has deep roots in the program. He previously served as:

Student Assistant during the 2007 ECAC South Atlantic Championship season
Tight Ends/Video Coordinator (2012–2013)
Wide Receivers Coach (2015–2021)
Special Teams Coordinator (2020–2024)
Recruiting Coordinator (2015–2023)

He also spent the 2014 season at Division I Towson University as Defensive Quality Control. During his time on the defensive staff, Towson produced two players who went on to play in the NFL.

As a student-athlete, Palazzo appeared in 29 games and was part of two NJAC Championship teams. He earned the Fred Hill Hustle Award in 2008, the Alan Coder Award in 2011, and the Iron Man Award in 2011 for his relentless effort in the strength and conditioning program. He also competed for four years on the MSU Track & Field team.

A graduate of Toms River South and the 2006 All-Shore Conference Game MVP, Palazzo earned his B.A. in Social Studies Education and his M.S. in Sports Administration from Montclair State. He currently resides in Little Falls, NJ.