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NCAA Basketball: Top 10 impact head coaching hires from 2010 offseason

By Joey Loose

CORVALLIS, OREGON - FEBRUARY 08: Head coach Dana Altman of the Oregon Ducks reacts during the first half against the Oregon State Beavers at Gill Coliseum on February 08, 2020 in Corvallis, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
CORVALLIS, OREGON - FEBRUARY 08: Head coach Dana Altman of the Oregon Ducks reacts during the first half against the Oregon State Beavers at Gill Coliseum on February 08, 2020 in Corvallis, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) /
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NCAA Basketball Russell Turner UC Irvine Anteaters (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
NCAA Basketball Russell Turner UC Irvine Anteaters (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

7. Russell Turner (UC Irvine)

There wasn’t anything unique or fantastic about UC Irvine basketball back in the day; heck they hadn’t even made an NCAA Tournament to that point. They were simply one of many California-based programs in the Big West, though they had yet to have their moment in the sun. With their new hiring in 2010, they made a big step towards that moment.

Russell Turner hadn’t yet been a head coach, but had picked up some significant experience over the years. Initially an assistant at his alma mater, Hampden-Sydney, he moved on to Wake Forest and then Stanford. Turner then followed Stanford coach Mike Montgomery and spent time on the bench of the Golden State Warriors.

Eleven years later, Turner has made a fantastic impact, turning UC Irvine into the best program in the Big West. He’s led the Anteaters to a pair of NCAA Tournaments, with the highlight being 2019, with the first-round upset over 4-seed Kansas State. UC Irvine has finished first or second for eight straight years in the Big West, making a whole host of postseason appearances. This program is thriving thanks to Turner and the future is still bright.

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