Texas A&M has zeroed in on Wichita State's Mark Turgeon as the top candidate

[Txbroadcaster]

From DMN

Texas A&M has zeroed in on Wichita State's Mark Turgeon as the top candidate to be its next men's basketball coach, according to a source in the athletic department.

[big daddy russ]

Anyone know much about Turgeon? Style of play or anything?

Any thoughts on whether the athletes at A&M would be a good fit for his system?

[Bulldog_12]

Originally posted by big daddy russ
Anyone know much about Turgeon? Style of play or anything?

Any thoughts on whether the athletes at A&M would be a good fit for his system?

From what I have seen he runs a motion offense and plays a TON of man to man on defense. Everything I have seen says he is a hard worker and really puts team first. Seems like our team might not have as much to adjust to as previously thought.

[g$$]

April 9, 2007, 1:07AM

Turgeon tabbed as new Texas A&M coach

By TERRANCE HARRIS
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Texas A&M has reached an agreement for Wichita State coach Mark Turgeon to take over as the Aggies' new men's basketball coach, according to three people with knowledge of the deal.

Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne offered Turgeon the job Saturday night, and Turgeon accepted, paving the way for him to replace Billy Gillispie, who Friday bolted after three years at A&M to take over at Kentucky.

With some issues still to be hammered out, terms of Turgeon's deal with the Aggies were unclear. Turgeon could be introduced as early as today as A&M's new coach, though the official announcement will likely come Tuesday.

Turgeon, 42, comes to A&M much the way Gillispie did a few years ago from UTEP as an up-and-coming young coach. Turgeon is credited with putting the Shockers back on the basketball map during his seven years there, during which he was 128-90.

In 2006, he guided Wichita State to the Missouri Valley Conference championship, the program's first conference title in 23 years. The Shockers received a No. 7 seed and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. This past season, the Shockers (17-14) finished sixth in the Valley at 8-10.

Turgeon, who also was the head coach of Jacksonville State for two years, brings major college and NBA experience to A&M. He spent a season on the bench of the Philadelphia 76ers with mentor Larry Brown.

After playing for Kansas in the 1980s, Turgeon served as a Jayhawks assistant coach under Brown and Roy Williams from 1987-92. He was on the bench for the Jayhawks' national championship in 1988.

His connection to Williams and his brief working encounter with Byrne likely worked in Turgeon's favor. Byrne was Oregon's AD when Turgeon was hired as an assistant there in 1992, months before Byrne became AD at Nebraska.

Turgeon's name has been mentioned in recent years for the head coaching vacancy at Kansas that went to Bill Self, and last year he was in the mix at Oklahoma when Kelvin Sampson went to Indiana.

Turgeon also brings a proven record of being able to recruit the state of Texas, which is high on Byrne's list. This past season's Shockers team had six players from Texas, including three from Houston.

Turgeon will take over an A&M program that has made three straight postseason appearances, including a trip to the Sweet 16 last month that capped a 27-7 season.

Turgeon inherits a team that will miss Acie Law, along with two other key departing seniors. But the Aggies return a core of experienced players, including All-Big 12 forward Joseph Jones and guards Josh Carter and Dominique Kirk.

John P. Lopez contributed to this report

terrance.harris@chron.com

[g$$]

This was a guy I mentioned when the story broke about BCG definitely leaving. He has been in the running for numerous jobs the past few years. I would have liked Rick Majerus & Lon Kruger, among others, to at least get interviews (reportedly had interest, never received a call back). But he has a track record as a good coach & has recruited Texas in the past. He also played at Kansas & coached in the NBA too. Time will tell on the success or failure of this hire, but Bill Byrne got "his" man.

[g$$]

Originally posted by big daddy russ
Anyone know much about Turgeon? Style of play or anything?

Any thoughts on whether the athletes at A&M would be a good fit for his system?

Roy Williams & Larry Brown are his mentors. Expect a good bit of their styles with some of his own thrown in too. He has been an up & comer for a while now.

The only gripe I have is Byrne did not interview more candidates & be more thorough. That being said, I like him on paper & we'll just have to see what happens. 1st & foremost is keeping the top 10 recruiting class intact (esp. 7 footer DeAndre Jordan from Houston).