Former Seawolf Assistant Turner Named UAA's New Head Coach

Turner to lead prominent Division II basketball program after successful stint at Eastern Arizona College

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:49am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a basketball game, with sharp geometric shapes and planes in a rich color palette representing the transition to a new era for the UAA men's basketball program.The UAA men's basketball program looks to a new era under the leadership of former assistant Cameron Turner, whose strategic mind and winning pedigree could propel the Seawolves to new heights.Anchorage Today

The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) men's basketball team is expected to introduce former Seawolf assistant Cameron Turner as its new head coach on Tuesday. Turner, who served as an assistant under previous head coach Rusty Osborne from 2011 to 2017, has spent the last four seasons as the head coach of the men's basketball team at Eastern Arizona College, where he compiled a 95-32 record and won three conference titles.

Why it matters

Turner's hiring marks the first time since 2004 that someone other than Rusty Osborne will lead the Seawolves. Osborne was UAA's most successful head coach, winning a school-record 382 games and 221 conference victories. Turner's return to the program he helped build is seen as an opportunity to continue the Seawolves' recent success, which includes two NCAA Tournament berths in the last three years.

The details

Turner told his Eastern Arizona players on Monday about his decision to take the UAA job. He will be officially introduced as the new head coach at a press conference in Anchorage on Tuesday afternoon. During his time as an assistant under Osborne, Turner helped the Seawolves go 116-60 and produce multiple All-Americans, including the 2012 NCAA National Player of the Year, Taylor Rohde. At Eastern Arizona, Turner turned the Gila Monsters into a dominant force in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference, winning three conference titles and two regional championships.

  • On Monday, Turner informed his Eastern Arizona College players of his decision to take the UAA head coaching job.
  • On Tuesday afternoon, Turner will be officially introduced as the new head coach of the UAA men's basketball team at a press conference in Anchorage.

The players

Cameron Turner

The new head coach of the UAA men's basketball team, who previously served as an assistant under Rusty Osborne from 2011 to 2017. Turner has spent the last four seasons as the head coach of the men's basketball team at Eastern Arizona College, where he compiled a 95-32 record and won three conference titles.

Rusty Osborne

The former head coach of the UAA men's basketball team, who was the program's most successful coach, winning a school-record 382 games and 221 conference victories. Osborne was part of the selection committee to find his replacement.

Taylor Rohde

A former player for the UAA men's basketball team who was named the 2012 NCAA National Player of the Year, during the time that Cameron Turner was an assistant coach.

Sylas Williams

An All-GNAC forward who is returning to the UAA men's basketball team next season.

Cole Johnson

The starting point guard who is returning to the UAA men's basketball team next season.

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What they’re saying

“Cameron has proven to be a hard worker, and he has a good mind for the game.”

— Rusty Osborne, Former UAA Head Coach

What’s next

The UAA men's basketball team will hold a press conference on Tuesday afternoon to officially introduce Cameron Turner as the program's new head coach.

The takeaway

Turner's return to the UAA program he helped build as an assistant coach under Osborne represents an opportunity to continue the Seawolves' recent success and build on the strong foundation laid by his predecessor. His proven track record of winning at the junior college level suggests he has the skills and experience to lead UAA back to the NCAA Tournament.