Longtime College Basketball Coach Passes Away Unexpectedly

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Mathey Gibson | Last updated Jun 5, 2025 2:14 PM ET

Veteran college basketball assistant Stacey Palmore has passed away unexpectedly, according to multiple reports.

He was in his third season on the coaching staff at Elon University.

Palmore had a coaching career that spanned more than three decades.

Most recently, he served as Elon’s Director of Video Scouting and Recruiting Operations while also working as an assistant under head coach Billy Taylor.

He joined the Phoenix in 2023 and helped guide the program through Taylor’s first three seasons.

The cause of Palmore’s death has not been made public at this time.

A native of Greenwood, South Carolina, Palmore built a reputation as a respected assistant with stints at numerous Division I programs.

He coached at USC Upstate (2018–2022), Coastal Carolina (2014–2017), Georgia (2009–2014), Virginia Tech, College of Charleston, Evansville, and Western Carolina.

RIP my brother @CoachPalmore
Stacey you believed in my son Brandon when no one else did. You were a man’s man and a heck of a coach/mentor.
One day I’ll see you again and give you a hug and say thank you.
Will miss you my brother
— Frank Martin (@coachFMartin) June 5, 2025

At Georgia, Palmore played a key role in developing NBA talent.

During his five years in Athens, the Bulldogs made two postseason appearances, including a trip to the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

He coached three future NBA players at Georgia in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Trey Thompkins, and Travis Leslie.

While at Coastal Carolina, Palmore contributed to a successful stretch that included an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2015 and back-to-back postseason bids in the CIT and CBI.

Stacey Palmore was one of the good ones.

RIP ️ pic.twitter.com/znnekDQsUS
— Jamie Shaw (@JamieShaw5) June 5, 2025

Palmore began his coaching journey at the high school level in Virginia.

He led Warwick High School as both an assistant and head coach from 1993 to 1997. From there, he made stops at Lander, Erskine, and Western Carolina before ascending the Division I ranks.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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