Joe Palka - Football Coach - Eastern Michigan University Athletics

Ohio

Oct 25 (Sat)

12 p.m.

Joe Palka

Title:
Defensive Corners

Joe Palka, the former EMU letterwinner and 1987 graduate, is starting his second year as the defensive corners coach at Eastern Michigan University.

Palka earned three varsity letters for the EMU football team from 1984-86 and started 27 games during his three-year career. He earned a varsity letter as a freshman at Grand Valley State University in 1982 before sitting out the 1983 season as a transfer. He was a first-team All-Mid-American Conference All-Academic Team selection in 1986 and an honorable mention choice in 1985.

The 41-year-old Palka (7-9-64) was the head football coach at St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind., in 1995, and was the defensive coordinator in 1994. He also served as a part-time football coach at Adrian College in 2002-03.

In addition he was the head football coach at three high schools: Bryan (Ohio) in 1996-98, Central Catholic (Ohio) in 1990-94, Summerfield (Mich.) in 1988-90 and was an assistant football coach at Montpelier (Ohio) in 1987-88. His 1993 Toledo Central Catholic team finished with an 8-2 record and a runner-up spot in the City League while being ranked 10th in the state. In 1989 he was chosen as the Regional Coach of the Year by both the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association and the Monroe Evening News after leading Summerfield H.S. to the Tri-County championship.

Palka joined the EMU football staff after serving as the principal at Summerfield Schools in Petersburg, Mich. from 2000-2004. Prior to that assignment, Palka was an assistant high school principal in the Rossford (Ohio) School System.

Palka and his wife, Kaleen (Halloran) have three children: Emileen (2-18-93), Tyler (5-16-95) and Jeb (5-17-98).