Ex-Maryland coach Mark Turgeon to take over at Kansas City

Former Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon on Sunday was named coach at Kansas City of the Summit League heading into the 2026-27 season.

Kansas City announced on Jan. 12 that head coach Marvin Menzies will finish the season with the Roos but will not return next season.

It's a homecoming for Turgeon, who was raised in Topeka, Kan., and was a point guard at Kansas in the mid-1980s. He turns 61 on Thursday.

"It is an honor to be returning home and to be trusted to build a winning tradition with Kansas City men's basketball," Turgeon said. "It was obvious through our initial conversations that I could build a strong partnership with Dr. (Brandon Martin, vice chancellor/director of athletics) and Chancellor (Mauli) Agrawal.

"I've always had a great love for Kansas City, and I believe that this city deserves a team that reflects its championship culture. There is so much untapped potential and with the full strength of the Kansas City community behind us, we will be able to elevate this program to new heights."

Turgeon got his first head coaching job at Jacksonville State in 1998, then coached at Wichita State (2000-07), Texas A&M (2007-11) and Maryland (2011-21). He has a career record of 476-275 and took his teams to 10 NCAA Tournaments.

"Coach Turgeon brings a wealth of credibility and success for our fan base, alumni, donors and key stakeholders throughout Kansas City," Martin said. "This will undoubtedly be an exciting and rewarding era for our Roo basketball program."

Turgeon left Maryland eight games into the 2021-22 season by mutual agreement with the university.

"After several in depth conversations with [athletic director] Damon [Evans], 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 statement in December 2021. "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."

The Roos are 4-18 (1-7 Summit League) on the season and have just one Division I win on the season. On Sunday, Kansas City visits conference foe St. Thomas, which is 17-6 (6-2).

This is Menzies' fourth season at the school. He also was the head man at New Mexico State (2007-16) and UNLV (2016-19).

--Field Level Media