Shelbyville football coach Justin Palmer fired after four seasons, 2019 Class 5A state quarterfinal appearance

Justin Palmer was fired as Shelbyville football coach on Thursday, three months after taking the Eagles to the Class 5A state quarterfinals for the first time since 2014.

Palmer said the dismissal as coach had to do with a personal matter that had been handled privately with his wife.

"I was pretty shocked," Palmer said. "It was nothing that was affecting my job. It was nothing like that.

"The drama had been handled on my end by me and my wife, but I guess some people had an issue with it."

Palmer said the matter involved nothing illegal that would require law enforcement. 

Palmer led Shelbyville to a 11-2 finish this past season, losing to Class 5A state runner-up Summit 20-12 in the third round of the playoffs. Shelbyville reached the playoffs in each season under Palmer.

Palmer finished with a 33-14 record in four seasons at Shelbyville.

Palmer said he told school administration about the situation with his family last week. 

"They told me (Thursday) they were going in a different direction," he said. 

An email sent to Shelbyville principal Tim Harwell from The Tennessean had not been returned Thursday evening. 

Palmer will remain at Shelbyville as a teacher for now, but said he would begin to search for a new coaching position.

"I think we did a good job since we've been here," Palmer said. "This is a tough place to win. It's a challenge and we've overcome that and done a good job.

"It's not just me that I have to think about. We've got a whole staff of guys I have to think about."

That staff includes Palmer's father, Wade Palmer.

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.