Kansas City Hires Mark Turgeon as New Men's Basketball Coach

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Kansas City has hired former Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon as its new men's basketball coach, according to multiple reports. Turgeon, a Kansas native and former player at the University of Kansas, has over 30 years of coaching experience at the Division I level, including stints at Wichita State, Texas A&M, and Maryland. He takes over a Kansas City program that is off to a 4-18 start this season and has never made the NCAA Tournament in over 40 years as a Division I school.

Why it matters

Turgeon's hiring represents a major coup for the Kansas City basketball program, which has struggled to gain traction at the Division I level. As an experienced coach with a proven track record of success, Turgeon brings instant credibility and the potential to turn around the Roos' fortunes. His return to coaching also marks an interesting career move, as he looks to revive his career at the mid-major level after parting ways with Maryland in 2022.

The details

Turgeon, 60, has a 471-272 all-time record as a Division I head coach. He led Wichita State, Texas A&M, and Maryland to a combined 10 NCAA Tournament appearances over his career. At Maryland, Turgeon guided the Terrapins to a Sweet 16 berth in 2016 but eventually agreed to part ways with the school midway through the 2021-22 season after a 5-3 start. Now, he takes over a Kansas City program that has never made the NCAA Tournament in over 40 years as a Division I school and is off to a 4-18 start this season under outgoing coach Marvin Menzie.

• Turgeon last coached in 2021.
• Kansas City announced earlier this season that the 2025-26 campaign would be coach Marvin Menzie's last with the program.

What’s next

Turgeon will look to quickly turn around the Kansas City program and guide the Roos to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.