Anthony Turner begins his third season as Utah Valley's associate head coach after joining the Wolverine staff in July 2016. He is known for his outstanding recruiting connections and coordination, post player development, scouting, and in-game adjustments.
In his first season, Turner helped guide the Wolverines to a WAC Tournament semifinal run for the second straight year with an upset of No. 3 seed CSU Bakersfield in the 2017 WAC quarterfinals. The WAC semifinals appearance also marked the second time in program history that Utah Valley advanced past the opening round of the conference tournament.
Prior to coming to UVU, Turner spent five years as an assistant coach for the University of New Mexico.
“We are thrilled to have Anthony Turner as a part of our Wolverine basketball family,” head coach Cathy Nixon said. “He brings a wealth of experience from very reputable programs, and he has been a great recruiter for a long time. For him to bring these assets to Utah Valley will definitely contribute to our program. He is a great person, with an awesome personality and has a passion for people, players, and the game of basketball. We are excited to move forward with Anthony on our staff.”
While with the Lobos, Turner served as the primary recruiting coordinator, mastering every aspect recruiting. Prior to serving at UNM, Turner served a season with Boise State, two seasons with Oregon State, six years with UNLV, two years with San Diego State and started his career as a student assistant for the University of Colorado for two seasons, amassing more than 18 years of experience coaching and assisting with women’s basketball programs in the West. He produced back-to-back number one recruiting classes in the Mountain West for the last two years.
Also with the Lobos, he worked with the post players, and under his tutelage Lobo players finished second in the Mountain West Conference in blocked shots in 2011-12. He also aided the Lobos to their historic run in the Mountain West Tournament where they became the first seventh seed to advance to the championship game in MW history. Turner was a part of Coach Yvonne Sanchez’s staff that saw a six-win improvement in the 2012-13 season from the 2011-12 season.
Additionally, three of the five years that Turner was with the Lobos, they were recognized by the WBCA for having a Top 25 GPA in the country. Turner has also participated in the NCAA BCA/ACE program in 2011. This highly selective and prestigious program selects 24 minority assistant coaches in basketball, 12 women’s basketball assistants and 12 men’s basketball assistants and trains them at the NCAA headquarters, with the purpose of preparing them to become successful head coaches.
Over the last 18 years in coaching, Turner recruited and coached 14 all-conference players, 11 eventual professional players, including three WNBA players in Seqouia Holmes, Haiden Palmer, and Shamela Hampton.
While Turner is touted for his incredible recruiting resume, he served as the main defensive coordinator for BSU (2010-2011), assisting with the development of game plans and strategies, as well as producing effective scouting reports and making all in game defensive play calls and adjustments.
Additionally, while at Oregon State (2008-2010), Turner was appointed as the offensive specialist, where he was responsible for developing the offensive playbook, making all offensive play calls and produce scouting reports.
During his time at UNLV (2002-2008), the Lady Rebels made four WNIT appearances, including a trip to the championship game in 2004 after amassing 26 wins that season. Also at UNLV, he coached a pair of Honorable Mention All-Americans in RanDee Henry and Sherry McCracklin. Also with the Rebels, he recuited and coached Sequoia Holmes, who became the only player in conference history to lead the league in scoring that season and was also voted Defensive Player of the Year.
Prior to joining the staff at UNLV, Turner was an assistant coach at San Diego State from 2000-02. While there, he assisted with the day-to-day operations of the program as well as with recruiting, scouting reports, film exchange, court instruction and conditioning. His primary focus was the team's guard play and directing the Aztecs' summer camps.
With the Lobos, Turner boasts two postseason appearances, back-to-back best recruiting classes as rated by the MW, and recruiting players honored for the conference All-Defensive team, All-Conference teams, All-Tournament teams, and All-Freshmen team members. With Oregon State, he helped the Beavers to their first 20-win season in 19 years (2009), and recruited players honored with All-Freshman, All-Defensive, and All-Conference awards presented by the PAC-12. Additionally, he recruited WNBA player Haiden Palmer. With the Rebels, Turner recruited eight professional players, and assisted UNLV to four postseason appearances. He assisted in the development of two post players who earned honorable mention All-America honors. Notably, he assisted the Rebels to a school record for most wins in a season in 2003.
“I am very appreciative of this opportunity, this is such a blessing, to be a part of a university that has continued to build throughout the years,” associate head coach Anthony Turner said. “Coach Nixon is a phenomenal coach and I just feel very fortunate to add to her staff and become a part of winning WAC Championships here at UVU.”
Turner is a 2008 graduate of the University of Colorado, and he and his wife Jaime have twin daughters, Alexis and Justice.
