Joe Palka

Biography

Joe Palka was named head coach of the Adrian College football program in November of 2023. Palka will serve as the 24th head coach of the program since 1900. The 2025 season will mark his second with the Bulldogs. In 2024, Palka led the Bulldogs back to a winning record, as Adrian finished the season with an impressive 6-4 overall record. Palka comes to Adrian College from Saline High School where he served as head coach of the football team since 2012. During his time at Saline, Palka totaled a career record of 112-21 with 11 consecutive postseason appearances and 18 playoff victories. Palka led the team to ten conference championships including a 58-game conference winning streak. Palka has acquired six District Titles, two Regional Titles, two Semifinal appearances, and was the 2014 State Runner-Up. Saline was ranked in the AP Division 1 Top-10 Rankings final poll in 10 of the last 12 seasons. While at Saline, Palka was named the 2021 SEC Coach of the Year, and the 2012 and 2014 Ann Arbor News Coach of the Year. Prior to Saline High School, Palka coached at Whitmer High School in Toledo, Ohio from 2006-2012, totaling a 59-17 record with six consecutive playoff appearances. From 2004-2006, Palka served as the Recruiting Coordinator at Eastern Michigan University where he coached three cornerbacks to the NFL. Palka's other collegiate coaching experience comes from St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana where he was the head coach and defensive coordinator from 1994-1996

Career Path