Bemidji State & Southwest State
Don Palm graduated in 1956 from White Bear Lake High School as a three sport letterman. Following a short stint a Hamline University he transferred and graduated in 1960 from Bemidji State College (now University (BSU)) earning a Bachelor of Science degree. At BSU Palm lettered in both football (58,59,60) and wrestling (59,60), he was a Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC) individual wrestling champion in 1960.
After earning a Master of Science degree from Southern Illinois University he returned to BSU in 1963 and initiated the Men’s Swimming and Diving program there. As BSU Head Men’s Swimming coach he quickly earned two NIC championships (66,67) and coached his team to 5th place in 1966 and 2nd place in the 1967 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men’s Swimming and Diving championships. His BSU team was an NAIA record setter in the 200 Medley Relay and included four All-American selections. In spring of 1967, following his success at NAIA nationals, he resigned as Head BSU swimming coach to focus on his new duties as Head BSU football coach for three unremarkable seasons.
In 1969 Palm left BSU for the opportunity to initiate the Men’s Swimming and Diving program at the newly constructed Southwest Minnesota State College (later known as Southwest State University (SSU)) in Marshall Minnesota and joined the SSU Health and Physical Education faculty (which he eventually chaired). At SSU Palm coached the Golden Mustangs to five consecutive NIC championships (73,74,75,76,77), nineteen NAIA All Americans, two NAIA individual event champions (1st place finishes in 200, 500, 1650 freestyle events and 1st place finish in 1 meter diving), and a 97-44 dual meet record. Palm successfully coached the “Southwest Swimming Machine” to the school’s first conference title in any sport. He coached his team to 3 top ten finishes at the NAIA championships and in addition, he hosted, coordinated and served as meet director for NAIA Swimming and Diving Nationals four different times (72,75,76,77) at the SSU aquatic facility.
Palm stepped down from Head swim coaching duties in 1979 and took a one year leave of absence to pursue a doctorate degree and during this absence the SSU Men’s Swimming and Diving program was terminated due to budget cuts. In 1981 Coach Palm resurfaced at Valparaiso University coaching its’ Men’s Swimming team to a 1981 Conference Championship and resulted in him being selected as the Indiana Collegiate Conference 1981 Swimming & Diving Coach of the Year. In 1982 at age 44 Coach Palm died unexpectedly.
Dom Palm’s honors include selection to BSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986, charter selection to SSU Hall of Honor in 1992, and in 1986 the SSU (now SMSU) aquatic facility was named the Don Palm Natatorium. Coach Palm is remembered not only as an outstanding swimming coach and athlete, but more importantly as a remarkable inspiration to his athletes and to all who knew him.