Kansas City men's basketballis hiring former Maryland coach Mark Turgeon for its coaching vacancy,the school announced Sunday, Feb. 1.
Turgeon, who last coached in 2021, is the first majorcoaching hire of the 2026 cycle.The former Wichita State and Texas A&M coach is a Kansas native and was a team captain at Kansas, appearing in four consecutive NCAA tournaments from 1984-87.
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The Roos announced earlier this season the 2025-26 campaign would be coach Marvin Menzie's last with the program. Kansas City is off to a 4-18 start this season.
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Magic Johnson college dominance: Led Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA Championship, defeating Larry Bird's Indiana State.
NBA: 5× NBA champion in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 with the Los Angeles Lakers. 3× NBA Finals MVP in 1980, 1982 and 1987. 3× NBA Most Valuable Player in 1987, 1989 and 1990. 12× NBA All-Star: 1980, 1982-1992. 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1990 and 1992. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Carmelo Anthony college dominance: In his lone season (2003), led Syracuse to a national championship and earned Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors. Averaged 22.2 points and 10 rebounds per game as a freshman.NBA: 10× NBA All-Star. 2012–13 NBA scoring champion, averaging 28.7 points per game." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Before NBA glory: How Jordan, Bird, Magic and Curry ruled in college
Magic Johnsoncollege dominance:Led Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA Championship, defeating Larry Bird's Indiana State.NBA:5× NBA champion in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 with the Los Angeles Lakers. 3× NBA Finals MVP in 1980, 1982 and 1987. 3× NBA Most Valuable Player in 1987, 1989 and 1990. 12× NBA All-Star: 1980, 1982-1992. 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1990 and 1992. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.
Turgeon has been to 10 NCAA Tournaments at three schools, leading the Aggies to four consecutive appearances from 2008-11 before leaving for Maryland. He led the Terrapins to a Sweet 16 berth in 2015-16 but eventually agreed to part ways with the school midway through the 2021-22 season after a 5-3 start.
It's a surprising move for a well-known coach to return to the sport to lead a Summit League program without much historical success. Kansas City, formerly known as UMKC, has never made the NCAA Tournament in over 40 years as a Division I program.
Turgeon, 60, has a 471-272 all-time record and will have his work cut out for him at the mid-major level.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Mark Turgeon to be Kansas City's next men's basketball coach
