University of Memphis legend Turner returns to college as head coach at Lane College
JACKSON, Tenn. (BVM) — A western Tennessee basketball legend will make his return to the collegiate level this year not as a player, but as a coach.
Andre Turner, a basketball star for both Memphis Mitchell High School and later the University of Memphis, was announced as the newest head coach for the men’s basketball team at Lane College on April 15. This will be Turner’s first time coaching at the collegiate level after he most recently coached at his former high school for the past 11 years, including the last six as head coach. During that time, Turner led the Tigers to eight state tournament appearances and three state championships from 2014-2016.
“I’m extremely excited,” Turner said. “It’s a new adventure, a new lane I’m moving in, no pun intended. I’m excited about all the possibilities that can happen here.”
Andre Turner named Men's Basketball Head Coach https://t.co/5JIEBwLDwe
— Lane College Dragons (@LaneAthletics) April 15, 2021
Turner chose to make the jump from the high school to the collegiate level because he would have the opportunity to coach at an HBCU in Lane while also being able to leave his mark on an older generation of athletes.
“It’s amazing how things happen and timing with situations,” Turner said. “With the notoriety and excitement about HBCUs these days and then having the ability to impact at the next level … to have the opportunity to impact at the next level and at an HBCU [was] extremely appealing.”
While his coaching experience and success is not to be taken lightly, Turner is more fondly remembered for his exploits as a player.
After a successful career with the Mitchell Tigers, Turner took his talents to the nearby collegiate Tigers at what was then Memphis State University in 1982. During his time at Memphis, Turner became one of the best point guards in school history.
Turner was instrumental to a Tigers team that would make four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances including an appearance in the 1985 Final Four. It was during that tournament that Turner left his mark in Memphis lore as, after a convincing opening round win over Penn, the guard would hit three consecutive game-winning shots to beat UAB, Boston College and Oklahoma to put the Tigers into the Final Four against eventual champion Villanova.
Though he may be most fondly remembered for his efforts on the Cinderella 1985 team, Turner had already long-established himself as one of the best Tigers to ever play. Known as the “Little General” due to his diminutive stature, 5-foot-10 and 165-pounds, and his ability to set up teammates, Turner still holds the Memphis records for assists in a game with 15, assists in a season with 262 and assists in a career with 763. His assist totals are so prolific in fact that the next closest player on the all-time assists list trails Turner by 124 and is ahead of the next closest single season assist player, himself in 1984-85, by 38.
During his time with the Tigers, Turner was twice selected to the All-Metro Conference Team, was a member of the NCAA All-Midwest Regional Team, the Basketball Weekly’s All-South Team, the USBWA All-District 3 Team and the 1986 Associated Press and UPI All-American Teams. Turner was inducted into the University of Memphis Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003.
“I think those four years at the University of Memphis really matured me and enabled me to become a better person and a better young man to help me compete out in the world and I think that was the big takeaway for me,” Turner said.
Now, the Little General will look to dish out more assists to the team he will now lead. He understands his name comes with a bit of significance when mentioned in the Memphis area and Western Tennessee and he just hopes that helps him get the opportunity to talk to more players and not have them think he was only a good player.
“I love who I am and I’m hoping and praying at least one or two people think pretty decent of me and the kids want to come and be a part of Lane College’s program,” Turner said.
Though the Division II Dragons did not play this past season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the team is in need of a boost after going 11-17 in 2019-20, including a 7-12 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record. Turner wants to instill some competitive fire into the Dragons from the jump.
“I want to compete at a high level,” Turner said. “I’m looking forward to competing at a high level and having guys that believe and understand that if you want to be successful it’s all about the amount of work you put in during the season and the offseason. … Championships are not made or won when the season starts, it’s made in the preseason and the offseason. … It’s an exciting time for me and I’m looking forward to it.”
For Turner, his goal is not only for success on the court, but to prepare his athletes for success outside of basketball. He knows this firsthand, as it was through basketball that Turner was able to get to college which eventually helped him land where he is today.
“I want these young men to understand the relationships that you encounter because you never know in life who you might meet or who you might help,” Turner said. “The position I am in now is case and point. The [Lane College] athletic director Derrick Burroughs, who played professionally, was a classmate of mine at Memphis State when we were there and he was a senior when I was a freshman and we knew each other. So you never know who you’ll encounter in college so building relationships means a lot.”
Regardless of how the seasons may go under Turner, he wants his squad to know that he will be supportive of them no matter the outcome.
“My task will be to let them know I am in your corner at all times,” Turner said. “I will try to keep you focused on the plan which is to become a great student-athlete. That has always been my focus even at the high school level, cheering my guys on at all times. Every graduation I am there in full support … because that is the most important part. If they turn out to be great young men that is the key component of coaching to me.”
With a collegiate legend and successful high school coach in Turner now at the helm, the Dragons hope the new leadership will also take the team in a new direction. With his recognition in the area, recruiting local skilled players shouldn’t be a problem for Turner, it’s just a matter of getting the team to play the way he wants to. Given the way he led his teammates during his career in Memphis and beyond, having people listen to and rally around him shouldn’t be a problem for Turner.
