Former Mark Twain all-state offensive lineman becomes Palmyra’s next football coach

PALMYRA, Mo. — The when, where, why and how things transpired weren’t going to change Dalton Hill’s outlook on what being a head football coach is all about.

The focus has to be on the players, first and foremost.

“I’m about the kids. It’s what I do this job for,” said Hill, whose appointment as the new Palmyra football coach was made public Monday. “It’s going to start with a meeting with the parents and the players and maybe just the whole community.

“I want to get my voice and myself out there in front of them and let them know where I envision our program going and let them know their kids are going to be in good shape. It’s extremely important to make this about the kids and watch them develop and watch them grow.”

Hill takes over a Palmyra program that went 0-10 last fall and has endured a tumultuous offseason.

Kevin Miles resigned as head coach November 8 after 12 seasons at the helm, and Tyler Krietemeyer was promoted to head coach in February after three seasons as an assistant. Both coaches were among four teachers/administrators/coaches who resigned last week after being placed on administrative leave March 21.

According to a press release issued Monday by Palmyra Superintendent Jason Harper, Hill was named the head coach at a special board meeting last Thursday night.

A 2017 graduate of Mark Twain High School and 2022 graduate of Northwest Missouri State, Hill is currently in his first year teaching at Mark Twain but had been hired by Palmyra to be the head strength and conditioning coach for the school district beginning next year. He will continue in that role, something he is extremely passionate about.

“I believe strength and conditioning is key for every athlete to prevent injuries and to increase power and output,” Hill said. “It’s vital for every sport.”

Those lessons were learned working with Northwest Missouri State strength and conditioning coach Joe Quinlan, who helped Hill work his way into the starting lineup at offensive guard during the 2021 season. Hill started all 13 games for the Bearcats.

“He really showed me the ins and outs of strength and conditioning and really motivated me,” Hill said. “He showed me how to be an effective strength and conditioning coach just by watching him. I went through his programs. He was my idol in that aspect.”

Palmyra is giving Hill the chance to do the same.

“I was extremely excited to take that position,” Hill said. “It speaks a lot about the school district and the administration of them seeing that and knowing the importance of it for all of their athletic programs. It’s not only for their athletic programs, but just for students in general who want to dive into fitness and improve themselves that way.”

Football is equally as important, as is the chance to guide his own program.

“That was always part of my process,” Hill said of becoming a head football coach. “The game of football has taught me so much in life, more things than I ever could have imagined.”

Hill was a Class 1 second-team all-state offensive lineman at Mark Twain and was a freshman during the Tigers’ final season as a member of the Clarence Cannon Conference. So he’s well versed in what football means in Northeast Missouri, especially in Palmyra where the Panthers have reached the state semifinals 

“That’s one of the biggest reasons I wanted to come be a part of it,” Hill said. “They had a tradition, a winning culture, and it matters to the community. They get a ton of support from everywhere.”