Kansas City hiring Mark Turgeon as next men's basketball coach
USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change.
Kansas City hiring Mark Turgeon as next men's basketball coach
Austin Curtright, USA TODAY NETWORK February 1, 2026 at 11:38 PM
0
Kansas City men's basketball is 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 major coaching 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.
REQUIRED READING: Mid-major basketball coaches who could be next in line for big-time jobs
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.
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=padding-bottom:56%>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.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/KOv2VgtXdRYmPY6O_6Uuyw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/345fa3d829c8ccd0d8ed607a4ac3ecbb class=caas-img data-headline="Before NBA glory: How Jordan, Bird, Magic and Curry ruled in college" data-caption="
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.
">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.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/KOv2VgtXdRYmPY6O_6Uuyw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/345fa3d829c8ccd0d8ed607a4ac3ecbb class=caas-img>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=padding-bottom:56%>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.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/zmT00VP2h6dgyk__bnqDEg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/d9486b185e314e6da990e6115f4fe37d class=caas-img data-headline="Before NBA glory: How Jordan, Bird, Magic and Curry ruled in college" data-caption="
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.
">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.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/zmT00VP2h6dgyk__bnqDEg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/d9486b185e314e6da990e6115f4fe37d class=caas-img>
1 / 2Before NBA glory: How Jordan, Bird, Magic and Curry ruled in college
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.
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.
Then-Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon reacts during a game against George Mason at Xfinity Center in 2021.
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
Source: “AOL Sports”
