Defense key part of Turner’s gameplan
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“I’m a very strong defensive coach, I get basically all that from the College of Charleston,” said the new coach, who accepted the position on Wednesday. “John Kresse was my coach there, and we’ll run a College of Charleston-style defense.
“It’s a very high-pressure defense, with a lot of deny and a lot of trapping. We run a basic 3-2 zone in the halfcourt defense, which consists of a trap depending on how many post players they have.”
While his defensive gameplan is based on a system he learned at Charleston, Turner said he turned to other successful programs when formulating his offensive style.
“We run a lot of T-game, which is an offense created by Dean Smith, and we run a lot of old Charleston, UCLA-style, John Wooden offenses,” he said. “We still run the flex off the break, and really like to focus on trying to create a lot of turnovers and score off those turnovers. That is what has been successful for us lately.”
While playing at Tennessee Tech, Turner noted he was moved to the point guard position — a move he noted helped him grow as a player and helped prepare him to join the coaching ranks.
“I came in as a shooting guard and was moved to a point guard,” he recalled. “That really changed me, and my thinking of basketball, because I’d never been in that role of the person who handles the ball most of the time.
“So that experience really increased my knowledge of the game, as far as getting everybody involved, knowing when to take the shot or when to make the pass. It really helped me become a leader.”
While he is confident his coaching style and gameplan can be successful with the Pioneers, Turner also noted his system can be adapted to fit the Warren County squad’s talents — talents he hopes to see for himself as soon as possible by evaluating the players through video of last year’s games, as well as in a camp-type setting.
“One of the things I want to do first is get some tape, and look at what they did well, their strengths and weaknesses,” he said. “I want to try and capitalize on what they’ve done well, and let them keep doing what they do well while also focusing on what they don’t do as well.
“I’m really anxious to meet all the players, breaking some film down and meeting with the assistant coaches,” he added. “I’ve created a notebook for them of my complete system, and I’m anxious to give that to them and meet with everyone as soon as possible.”
The Turner File
•?Standout player at Gwinett Central H.S. in Georgia.
• Collegiate player at College of Charleston and Tenn. Tech, All-OVC performer while a Golden Eagle.
•?Taught and coached basketball and football at Woodland High School, starting both programs from scratch.
•?Three years as assistant with Cedar Shoals H.S. (Athens, Ga.), also head coach of JV squads which combined for 45-1 record. Varsity team during that time reached final eight of state tourney twice, final four last season.
•?29 years old, engaged to former TTU basketball player Pamela Rogers.