Texas A&M coach returns to play against alma mater

Friday, March 7, 2008

Back when Texas A&M head coach Mark Turgeon played high school basketball at Topeka Hayden High School, he dreamt of a career in the NBA.

After averaging 3.4 points a game in four years at Kansas, Turgeon realized he’d have to find a different job. Fortunately, Kansas coach Larry Brown gave him an idea.

“He was the first guy who said, ‘I think you’ll be a pretty good coach someday so why don’t you start preparing yourself,’ ” Turgeon said.

Duane A. Laverty

Texas A&M head coach Mark Turgeon yells instruction to his players during first-half action against Baylor in a college basketball game Wednesday, March 5, 2008, in Waco, Texas.

Brown’s prediction was correct. Turgeon has come a long way since his final game as a KU guard in 1987. He’s coaching the 22-8 Texas A&M Aggies and will face his alma mater for the first time Saturday at 3 p.m.

“It’s not going to be fun,” Turgeon said. “I’m not looking forward to it. It was really the only downer of taking the job, but that’s the way it’s going to be.”

Brown did more than help Turgeon find his calling as a basketball coach. He gave him his first job. Turgeon was on the bench as a graduate assistant for the 1987-88 season and saw Brown lead the team to a national title.

“That was probably the year I learned the most about coaching because I didn’t have any pressure on me whatsoever,” Turgeon said. “I just kind of sat back and watched him work and watched everything happen.”

Coach Roy Williams kept Turgeon on his staff the next season, and Turgeon stayed as an assistant until 1992. After assistant jobs with Oregon and the Philadelphia 76ers and a two-year stint as head coach at Jacksonville State, Turgeon became head coach at Wichita State in 2000. In his seven seasons, the Shockers made three NITs and an NCAA Sweet 16. It was during that run to the Sweet 16 in 2006 that Turgeon thought he might stay at Wichita State forever.

He enjoyed living in his home state and had a wife and two kids who were comfortable in Wichita. Then, last spring, former Texas A&M coach Billy Gillispie left for Kentucky. A&M Athletic Director Bill Byrne, who knew Turgeon from Oregon, was ready to hire Turgeon just two days after Gillispie left.

Turgeon thought he’d be ready for the jump from the Missouri Valley to Big 12.

“I worked for Larry Brown,” he said. “I worked for Roy Williams. They taught me to be ready for these situations.”

But Turgeon might not have been prepared enough. The Aggies lost three of their first four conference games. Criticism piled with the losses. Earlier this season, Turgeon lashed out at reporters, saying he was in a no-win situation because Gillispie would get credit if they had a successful season, and he’d get blamed if they failed.

The situation calmed down slightly after A&M ran off a few victories, but the Aggies lost four of their previous five games before winning at Baylor Wednesday night. They’re 22-8 and 8-7 in the Big 12. If the Aggies beat Kansas, they’ll probably be assured of an NCAA Tournament bid.

Kansas coach Bill Self thinks the pressure to win will make Turgeon forget about the emotions of playing against the Jayhawks.

“People down there are talking about, ‘We need to kick Kansas’ butt to accomplish what we want,’” Self said. “He’s not going to be hung up about playing his alma mater.”

Turgeon isn’t so sure. He’s not anxious to play the Jayhawks. This year, Kansas has a conference title at stake. He wants the matchup to mean that much to the Aggies in the future.

“I just hope it’s a really big game every year,” Turgeon said. “KU’s proven that they’re going to be a quality program every year. They’ve done it for a long time. Hopefully A&M can continue the success of the last three years and make the game mean a lot in the league race.”

—Edited by Russell Davies

A&M’s returners need to fill hole

The loss of All-Big 12 guard Acie Law to graduation and the ...

/news/2007/oct/26/am/

Wiebe: Rough return for Turgeon

Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon, former Kansas point guard and assistant coach, ...

/news/2009/jan/20/rough_return/

What three men can do

How Johnson, Brown and Manning rejuvenated Kansas basketball.

/news/2008/feb/15/what_three_men_can_do/

No. 1 Jayhawks hold off Texas A&M

Kansas faces off against a Texas A&M team that has yet to ...

/news/2010/feb/15/no-1-jayhawks-face-tough-road-test-texas-m/

Never in doubt, Kansas wins 73-53

Kansas scored 23 points off turnovers and Mario Little was a perfect ...

/news/2009/jan/19/live_update_kansas_vs_texas_m/

Race for the Big 12 title

The Big 12 Conference regular season has reached its halfway point. The ...

/news/2008/feb/06/race_big_12_title/

Blog: Predicting the Big 12 men's basketball ...

Sam Kovzan gives his take on where each Big 12 team will ...

/news/2011/oct/25/blog-predicting-big-12-mens-basketball-final-stand/

Aggie Homecoming

Kansas assistant coach A’Quonesia Franklin returns to her alma mater as the ...

/news/2012/feb/02/aggie-homecoming/

Intense A&M atmosphere awaits Jayhawks

Kansas has visited Kyle Field four times in its history and never ...

/news/2007/oct/25/kyle_field/

Football schools improve basketball programs

Athletics Department hopes to follow the lead of other schools and make ...

/news/2007/mar/01/football/

Dent: New K-State coach a mixed blessing

K-State might be good in spite of Martin next season, but success ...

/news/2007/apr/09/dent/

Football Notes: Oct. 29, 2007

Another week means another set of school records for the undefeated Jayhawks ...

/news/2007/oct/29/fbnotes/

No respect at all

Big 12 coaches are tired. Sick and tired of the unfair treatment ...

/news/2007/mar/07/big_12_coaches/

Ranked soccer team prepares for tough weekend ...

Soccer Coach Mark Francis wants a win against his alma mater during ...

/news/2008/sep/05/soccer/

Jayhawks emerge again as victors

Seniors finished their regular season in College Station, Texas as four-time Big ...

/news/2008/mar/10/jayhawks_end_regular_season_championsagain/

Texas A&M wastes no time in rout

Despite limiting A&M’s possession, Kansas allowed 61 points in a blowout loss.

/news/2011/nov/20/texas-am/

Home sweet home proving true for Big ...

Teams struggle away from home court, fans

/news/2008/feb/13/home_sweet_home_proving_true_big_12/

Kemper’s last stand for Big 12

/news/2005/mar/10/sports_basketball_mens_big12/

Texas A&M praises Kansas defense

The Texas A&M Aggies came into Saturday’s 19-11 loss ranked fifth in ...

/news/2007/oct/29/texas_m_praises_kansas_defense/

Morning Brew: Jankovich flies with Redbirds

Former Kansas assistant coach finds niche with Illinois State

/news/2009/jan/21/morning_brew_jankovich_flies_redbirds/

What Others Are Saying: February 2, 2007

Regional and national media's take on Kansas athletics.

/news/2007/feb/02/others/

Coaching changes, young teams mark Big 12

This year, the Big 12 won’t have several players now in the ...

/news/2007/oct/18/Basketball_Notes/

Jayhawks drop game, weekend series to Aggies

Sunday's loss against Texas A&M brings the Jayhawks to a 1-5 record ...

/news/2008/mar/31/jayhawks_drop_game_weekend_series_aggies/

Baseball to face critical matchups

The Kansas baseball team will face Big 12 competition for the first ...

/news/2007/mar/16/big12/

Gameday: Kansas vs. Texas A&M;

Kansas looks to maintain its hold on first place in the Big ...

/news/2007/feb/02/mbbgameday/

Jayhawks ready for tough tilt with Aggies

Texas A&M is tied with Kansas State for second place in the ...

/news/2010/feb/14/jayhawks-ready-tough-tilt-aggies/

A cross-conference uplift

Coaches at Big 12 Media Day say that Kansas’ championship victory put ...

/news/2008/oct/24/basketball_media_day/

Texas A&M's defense gives Kansas problems in ...

The Kansas baseball team dropped its eighth-straight game on Saturday.

/news/2012/apr/14/texas-ms-defense-gives-kansas-problems-loss/

'A Long Story,' but told so well

Announcer Max Falkenstien was courtstidefor 60 of Kansas basketball's 110 years.

/news/2008/feb/15/long_story_told_so_well/

Texas A&M’s No. 5 rushing offense biggest ...

Texas A&M’s top three rushers provide the biggest threat to the Jayhawk’s ...

/news/2007/oct/25/football/

Men's Big 12 teams in Review

/news/2005/apr/07/sports_basketball_mens_big12review/

Kansas finishes strong against A&M

Late-game dramatics continue as the Jayhawks battle a late rally from the ...

/news/2010/apr/02/kansas-finishes-strong-against-m/

Big 12 men's basketball standings

With four weeks left until "Selection Sunday," how many teams from the ...

/news/2012/feb/14/big-12-mens-standings/

Conference features young talent, experienced coaches

All-American Brandon Rush, who would be in the NBA had he not ...

/news/2007/oct/26/conference_features_young_talent_experienced_coach/

Volleyball strives for consistency against Aggies

he team plays Texas A&M, who has won its last four games.

/news/2010/sep/16/volleyball-strives-consistency-against-aggies/

Robinett: Why is Texas A&M left out?

Talk continues about who will be considered for number one, but why ...

/news/2007/feb/27/robinett/

Senior’s volleyball career winds down

Emily Brown, a four-year starter, has lived volleyball for a long time, ...

/news/2007/nov/13/seniors_volleyball_career_winds_down/

Dwyer: Reasons to like K-State's Martin

He may be a rival coach, but that shouldn’t stop KU fans ...

/news/2010/jan/22/dwyer-martin/

Self says he won’t leave for Oklahoma ...

Although linked to his alma mater, Self said the school hadn't contacted ...

/news/2008/apr/02/self_says_he_wont_leave_oklahoma_state/

Self has team keep an eye on ...

Men's basketball prepare for tomorrow's game against Texas Tech, knowing that this ...

/news/2012/feb/16/self-standings/

Sign in to comment

Or login with:

OpenID