Head Coach Rechelle Turner Receives Contract Extension Through 2031

Photo by: Murray State Sports Information

Head Coach Rechelle Turner Receives Contract Extension Through 2031

4/2/2026 9:13:00 PM | General, Women's Basketball

Program’s winningest head coach coming off team’s second consecutive trip to NCAA Tournament

After leading the Murray State women's basketball program to a second-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament and sweeping the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles, head coach Rechelle Turner has received a contract extension that will see her continue to lead the Racers through 2031.

Turner, who has been at the helm of the program since 2017, was named the Missouri Valley Conference's Coach of the Year for the first time in her career after guiding the Racers to one of the best seasons in program and conference history.

"Coach Turner has done a tremendous job representing the University and the athletics department with the utmost class, and we are beyond excited that she will lead the women's basketball team for many years to come," University President Dr. Ron Patterson said. "The team has continued to excel under her leadership and we know that the future is bright with her leading the way."

The Racers secured a school-record 31 wins during the 2025-26 campaign, highlighted by a program-best 19 wins in league play. The overall win total marked the second time in the history of the MVC that a program eclipsed the 30-win mark.

"Rechelle has done a phenomenal job building our basketball program into a championship contender on a yearly basis, and we are thrilled that she is committed to leading this charge into the future coming off of the historic 2025-26 season," Director of Athletics Nico Yantko said. "We are committed to continuing to resource our women's basketball program to reflect the vision of our Second Saturday Strategy and are looking forward to growing the team's profile nationally with Coach Turner leading the way."

Murray State achieved its historic success behind a trio of All-Conference selections in Halli Poock, Sharnecce Currie-Jelks and Haven Ford. Poock was named MVC Player of the Year and a First Team All-Conference selection, Currie-Jelks earned Newcomer of the Year honors and garnered First Team All-League honors, and Ford secured Second Team All-Conference and All-Defense team honors.

"Home is where the heart is, and my heart is at Murray State University. It has been a dream come true to coach women's basketball at my alma mater and in the community I have called home for over thirty years," Turner said. "Winning back-to-back Missouri Valley championships has enhanced that dream, and now as a women's basketball family, we will dare to dream for more. I am incredibly blessed and incredibly grateful to receive a contract extension from the university, and I would like to thank President Patterson, the Board of Regents, Athletic Director Yantko, and Mr. Leon Owens for the tremendous level of support they have extended to me and our program."

As a team, the Racers once again proved to be one of the most efficient offensive squads in the country by finishing the season ranked fifth nationally in scoring offense (85.6), 38^th nationally in rebounds per game (40.5) and 45^th nationally in both scoring margin (11.7) and assist/turnover ratio (1.11).

"This extension signals a remarkable commitment to women's basketball by our university and athletic department," Turner added. "It shows great confidence in the direction of our program, overwhelming trust in our coaching staﬀ, and a strong belief in the relentless excellence of the young women that continue to create and elevate the championship culture here at Murray State. We are being given all of the resources required to compete for championships each and every year, and we will honor this contract by pouring ourselves into making sure our university, our community, and our wonderful fan base can be proud to support Murray State women's basketball for years to come."

While Murray State remains laser focused on competitive excellence during the golden era of Racer Athletics, the department will embark on a bold, comprehensive $100 million fundraising campaign, Leading The Pack, to further position itself for the future by investing in student-athlete success and wellness, revenue share and competitive resources and world-class facilities.

Learn more about how you can support the campaign by clicking HERE.

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