The Elon University community is saddened by the sudden passing of assistant men’s basketball coach Stacey Palmore.
“We are heartbroken,” said Director of Athletics Jenn Strawley. “Stacey was a man of faith, commitment and dedication who poured himself into our student-athletes. He left an incredible imprint on the Elon community and on college basketball. Our thoughts and prayers are with his son Jaden, his family, our men’s basketball family, and all who Stacey touched.”
Stacey joined the Elon’s men’s basketball staff in 2022 and worked hand in hand with head coach Billy Taylor to help shape and build the program. He was instrumental in leading the Phoenix to one of its best seasons at the Division I level this past year.
“Stacey was a colleague and a friend for over 25 years, dating back to our time as assistant coaches in the Southern Conference,” said Taylor. “I am heartbroken for his son Jaden, his family, and our Elon basketball family.”
Prior to his arrival at Elon, Palmore was an assistant coach at USC Upstate and Coastal Carolina from 2014-17. He was also an assistant coach at Georgia, where he coached three future NBA players, including 2013 number eight overall pick Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Travis Leslie and Trey Thompkins.
Prior to Georgia, Palmore spent five seasons at Virginia Tech under head coach Seth Greenberg. Palmore built a reputation at Virginia Tech as one of the ACC’s top assistant coaches, both as a recruiter and an on-court teacher. He recruited and coached three players who played in the NBA: Malcolm Delaney (Atlanta Hawks), Jarrell Eddie (Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls) and Erick Green (Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz).
A 1993 graduate of Livingstone College (N.C.), Palmore played basketball and golf at the collegiate level. As a junior and senior, he ranked in the Top 10 nationally for Division II in 3-point field goal percentage and was co-captain his last two seasons.
Elon Assistant Basketball Coach Stacey Palmore passes away
