Andrea Palafox, a five-time All-American during a decorated rifle career at UTEP (2009-12), was named UTEP rifle's head coach on Aug. 19, 2022.
In her third season at the helm of UTEP Rifle, Palafox was recognized as the 2024-25 Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) Coach of the Year, becoming just the second coach in program history to receive a national coaching award. Her leadership guided the Miners to a breakout season, including multiple school records and an NCAA individual qualifier.
The Miners set a program-record 4,694 aggregate score in a victory over Nebraska, while freshman Carlee Valenta became UTEP’s first NCAA qualifier in air rifle since 2012, placing 17th nationally. Valenta also set school records in air rifle (599) and aggregate score (1811) during the NCAA Qualifier match at Alaska Fairbanks. Under Palafox’s guidance, UTEP climbed as high as No. 14 in the national rankings and continued to build a competitive and resilient team culture.
Palafox earned All-American honors in air rifle in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, and smallbore in 2012. She helped the Miners finish fifth as a team at the 2012 NCAA Championships, the best showing in school history.
Palafox was a standout in the classroom at UTEP as well, making the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll four times and the College of Liberal Arts Dean's List in 2010. She was also a member of UTEP's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Palafox has coached for several years for the international Shooting Coach Online program, and more recently worked with CODE Guanajuato (Sports Commission of the State of Guanajuato). She is also a partner of the Shootwatch app, a worldwide training program. She has a Level I coach certification by the National Rifle Association (NRA).
Palafox was a member of the Mexican National Team prior to coming to UTEP in 2008. She has represented Mexico in 13 ISSF (International Shooting Sport Federation) World Cups, one world championship, two Championships of the Americas, two Pan American Games and two Central American Games during a distinguished competitive career. She is currently ranked #1 in smallbore and #2 in air rifle in Mexico.
She earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from UTEP in 2012, and her Masters in Psychology of Physical Activities and Sports from Universidad de Educacion a Distancia in 2016.
A native of Guanajuato, Mexico, Palafox comes from a rifle family. Her father, Marcos Palafox, was part of the Mexican National Team and later coached a team in Mexico. Her brother, Marcos Palafox, shot for the Mexican National Team from 1999-2006.
