Former KU guard Mark Turgeon out at Maryland but an ex-Jayhawk will be interim coach
Former Kansas guard Mark Turgeon is out as Maryland’s men’s basketball coach after 10 years with the program.
A former Jayhawk will replace him as interim coach; Maryland athletic director Damon Evans named former KU forward Danny Manning as the team’s replacement for Turgeon until the end of the season.
Maryland was off to a 5-3 start this season. That included losses in the last two games to Louisville and Virginia Tech.
“After several in-depth conversations with Damon, I have decided that the best thing for Maryland Basketball, myself and my family is to step down, effective immediately, as the head coach of Maryland Basketball,” Turgeon said in a release. “I have always preached that Maryland Basketball is bigger than any one individual. My departure will enable a new voice to guide the team moving forward.”
Turgeon, who previously was an assistant at KU and also was Wichita State’s coach from 2000-07, went 226-116 in his 10 seasons with the Terps.
Manning was hired as a Maryland assistant coach by Turgeon in April. He also previously was an assistant at KU before later becoming head coach at both Tulsa and Wake Forest.
“We are fortunate that Coach Turgeon has surrounded himself with an outstanding group of coaches,” Evans said in a release. “Coach Manning has been a head coach at the highest level and we have the utmost confidence in his abilities to lead this program.”
Evans said that Maryland would have a national search for Turgeon’s replacement once this season concludes.
KU coach Bill Self was asked about Turgeon leaving Maryland and Manning taking over after KU’s win over St. John’s on Friday night in New York.
“I feel bad for Turg. Maybe I should be feeling happy for him, too, if it’s what’s best for he and his family,” Self said. “I text ‘D’ (Manning) early in the day I haven’t talked to Turg in months. When we do that (job status) hasn’t been something that’s come up,” Self added.
This story was originally published December 3, 2021 at 12:31 PM.
