Calipari gets ‘next guy’ on his list to replace Lucas on Kentucky basketball staff

Within the search to switch Jai Lucas on the Kentucky basketball teaching employees, John Calipari didn’t should transcend the primary particular person on his checklist of prospects.

“I knew that once we had a gap, Ok.T. Turner could be our subsequent man I’d be calling on,” Calipari mentioned in a Wednesday information launch saying the hiring. “I’ve been very impressed with Ok.T. for so long as I’ve identified him. He’s from Cincinnati. His father labored for Tony Yates.

“And he nonetheless has ties to the realm. He’s a longtime coach and somebody who has a ardour for improvement.

“He loves spending time within the fitness center working with children and serving to them proceed to push for enchancment. Ok.T. has accomplished a wonderful job of recruiting Texas, which has all the time been good to us, and has a terrific skill to attach with younger individuals. He’s precisely the coach we have been in search of and I’m thrilled to have him be a part of our household.”

Turner, who has ties to one in all Calipari’s teaching mentors (Larry Brown), spoke of being keen to hitch the Kentucky employees.

“I’m grateful for the chance to work on the College of Kentucky,” Turner mentioned within the information launch. “I’ve all the time needed to work underneath John Calipari and be part of his program. He has been on the forefront of school basketball for a very long time. My household is extraordinarily grateful for the chance to stay within the state of Kentucky and be part of the Lexington neighborhood. There may be work to be accomplished and the employees that I’m becoming a member of is ready to get this accomplished. We all know the mission is to get quantity 9.”

In early Could, Lucas left UK’s employees after two seasons to turn out to be an assistant coach at Duke.

Turner brings 17 seasons of school teaching expertise to Kentucky. He was affiliate head coach at Oklahoma underneath Porter Moser final season.

In his one season at Texas (2020-21), the Longhorns had a 19-8 report, led the Huge 12 in area objective share protection and have been a three-seed within the NCAA Match. He was credited with serving to Kai Jones be named Huge 12 Sixth Man of the Yr.

Earlier than Texas, Turner was an assistant coach at SMU for seven seasons. That included 4 seasons as affiliate head coach.

In that point, SMU had a report of 169-71 and received two American Athletic Convention regular-season and event championships. SMU was ranked in The Related Press Prime 25 in 4 of these seasons.

The hyperlink to Calipari by way of Larry Brown got here at SMU. In three of Turner’s seasons on the SMU employees, Brown was the top coach. Calipari started his teaching profession working at Kansas when Brown was coach.

The Athletic has reported that Brown strongly really useful Texas rent Turner.

Then-Texas Coach Shaka Sensible mentioned that Brown advised him, “Ok.T.’s one of the best assistant I’ve ever been round due to the impression that Ok.T. has on the individuals round him,” The Athletic reported.

Later, Sensible mentioned of Brown, “he’s a kind of guys, if you happen to don’t like him, then one thing’s flawed with you.”

In Turner’s time on the employees, 15 SMU gamers made all-conference groups. Three gamers — Semi Ojeleye, Sterling Brown and Shake Milton — have been NBA Draft picks.

Earlier than working for SMU, Turner was an assistant coach at Wichita State (2012-13), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2011-12), Hutchinson Group School (2009-11), Cowley School (2008-09), Redlands Group School (2006-07) and Panola Group School (2005-06).

His season with Wichita State noticed the Shockers advance to the Last 4 by beating Pittsburgh, No. 1 total seed Gonzaga, La Salle and Ohio State.

Within the nationwide semifinals, Wichita State misplaced to Louisville, 72-68.

Turner is a second-generation school coach. His late father, Ken, was an assistant coach at Kansas State and Ohio State.

Turner performed collegiately on the junior school and NAIA ranges. After school, he performed professionally in Italy from 2002 to 2005.