UMKC makes splash with Turgeon hire
Longtime Maryland, Texas A&M, and Wichita State head coach to usher in credibility and a new era of Roos Basketball.
After a four-year hiatus from coaching, Mark Turgeon, a 10-time NCAA Tournament qualifier as a head coach, has been named the man at the helm for the UMKC basketball program.
It is a major splash for the ‘Roos, who have not finished above .500 since the 2021-2022 season under former head coach Billy Donlon and are in the midst of a disappointing 4-19 2025-2026 season.
“We are thrilled to welcome a new leader for Kansas City’s Division I basketball program at such an exciting time for our university and city,” UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal announced Sunday. “Coach Turgeon brings the vision, record, and competitive drive that align perfectly with our commitment to excellence – on the court, in the classroom, and in the community.
His hiring is part of our broader investments in elevating the university and strengthening programs that bring pride and momentum to our campus. We believe this is the start of a new chapter will raise the profile of our program and make our university community proud.”
Turgeon’s resume speaks for itself. The Topeka native had a highly decorated career as a player for the University of Kansas, serving as team captain for the Jayhawks during his junior and senior seasons. He was also an assistant coach for Larry Brown on the 1988 national championship team.
His most recent stop was a long one. He was the head coach for Maryland from 2011 to 2021, earning a Big Ten regular-season title (2020), Big Ten Coach of the Year (2015), and a Sweet 16 appearance during the Terrapins’ transition from the ACC to the Big Ten.
Prior to that, he spent four seasons as head coach with Texas A&M and eight with Wichita State, being the pioneer who put the latter on the map. He took the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament all four seasons he was there, but what he did for the Shockers was even more impressive.
Prior to Turgeon’s arrival, the Shockers had just two winning seasons over the previous 11, and by the end of his tenure, he had six and took the Missouri Valley Conference school to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1981.
“It is an honor to be returning home and to be trusted to build a winning tradition with Kansas City men’s basketball,” Turgeon said. “It was obvious through our initial conversations that I could build a strong partnership with (UMKC Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Dr. Brandon Martin) and Chancellor Agrawal.
I’ve always had a great love for Kansas City, and I believe that this city deserves a team that reflects its championship culture. There is so much untapped potential, and with the full strength of the Kansas City community behind us, we will be able to elevate this program to new heights.”
He wound up tallying three 20-win seasons with Wichita State after his first head coaching opportunity with Jacksonville State, leading them to a 17-11 season. It was the Gamecocks’ first time finishing above .500 as a Division I program after making the jump from Division II in 1995.
Across his 24 years of head coaching experience, Turgeon has amassed a 471-272 record with a 10-10 record in the NCAA Tournament.
As for UMKC, the ‘Roos have never qualified for the NCAA Tournament, or even the NIT for that matter. After turning Division I in 1987, the only postseason appearance in history has been a 1977 appearance in the NAIA Tournament and a 2017 appearance in the CBI.
It will be a homecoming for a successful coach who was born and raised in the state of Kansas and has proven he can win at the lower levels of Division I basketball after his time at Wichita State.
“We are delighted to welcome Coach Turgeon and his wife Ann to the Roo family. It’s exciting to have them both back home in the Midwest,” Dr. Brandon Martin announced on Sunday. “Coach Turgeon brings a wealth of credibility and success for our fan base, alumni, donors, and key stakeholders throughout Kansas City. This will undoubtedly be an exciting and rewarding era for our Roo basketball program.”
Turgeon will take over starting with the 2026-2027 season.