New BHS coach ready to go

Thu, May 15, 2008

By KEVIN PRICE

The Brunswick News

Chris Turner initially didn't plan on applying for the head basketball coaching position at Brunswick High.

But after deciding to do so at the urging of others and ultimately getting the job, he is ready to get to work with the Pirates.

"I'm excited about the opportunity and the challenge," said Turner, who coached previously in high school as both a head coach and an assistant. He has been a physical education teacher at Glynn Middle the past two years where he also was the head coach of the boys basketball team this past season.

"I've had a couple of other offers to coach, but had no desire until this came up. I really liked (Brunswick principal Terry Graff) in my interview. I could tell he does what he does because he loves the kids, and that's the same reason I'm in this. I'm from a poor family, and if not for ball, I wouldn't have ever gone to school."

Turner accepted the offer to become Brunswick's coach on Tuesday. He was among two coaches who were chosen from a pool of roughly 55 applicants to interview for the position.

His hiring was approved Tuesday night by the Glynn County Board of Education.

Turner takes over for Warren Lawrence who was dismissed as the Brunswick coach in April after having coached the Pirates since 1996.

Chris Turner watches students in his physical education class play basketball Wednesday at Glynn Middle School. Turner has been named the new head basketball coach at Brunswick High. (Bobby Haven/The Brunswick News)

The Pirates were 7-18 last season, their ninth losing season in 12 years.

"Hopefully, we can generate some excitement and get something positive going," Turner said. "From what I've seen, they've got some talent, which is half the battle. If the talent is there, I feel like I can teach them to play basketball."

Since coming to Glynn County in 2005, Turner, 35, has also coached junior varsity and freshman basketball at Glynn Academy and also football at Glynn Middle and Glynn Academy.

Before coming here, he was head basketball coach at Warren County High in Tennessee, where he took a four-win team to 10 and 15 victories in his two seasons there.

His past coaching experience also includes a stop at Cedar Shoals in Athens, where as an assistant he helped the team there to the state semifinals, the Elite Eight and Sweet 16 in three seasons.

As a player, Turner played professionally in Spain and in the United States Basketball League.

In college, he played at the College of Charleston, where he was named the Trans American Conference Freshman of the Year, and at Tennessee Tech, where he is a member of the school's basketball hall of fame.

In high school, he played at Central Gwinnett, where his jersey has been retired and he also is a member of the school's basketball hall of fame.

"He's going to do really well, I think," said Gary Sharpe, Glynn County schools athletic director. "It was obvious watching him coach last year that his team was well-coached and prepared to play.

"He had an outstanding playing career and has a good feel for the game. He's played and worked under some great coaches. He has all the ingredients to be an outstanding coach."

Turner said his coaching tactics are greatly influenced by John Kresse, his coach at the College of Charleston, who is a disciple of legendary UCLA coach John Wooden.

"I'm a defensive coach, and that will start from day one," Turner said. "We're going to be really aggressive, playing fullcourt, trapping and denying.

"Our kids are going to be quick, in shape and strong. Offensively, if we can get steals, we're going to be looking for 3-on-2 and 2-on-1 situations. But if those aren't there, we'll be looking for discipline. We're going to know about spacing, how to pick-and-roll, those kinds of things."

Turner said the Brunswick players can expect a coach who is demanding, but also fair.

"We're going to run a first-class program," he said. "The kids will be held accountable, they'll have to work hard to earn everything they get, and I'll expect them to represent our program well off the court and do the job in the classroom, too.

"I'm also going to try and do everything I can to help them accomplish their goals and their dreams."

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