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JAMESTOWN – Jamestown Community College and the Director of Athletics and Recreation George Sisson has named David Turnbull the new head coach of the women’s basketball program Wednesday afternoon.
“We’re excited about having David join our athletic staff,” Sisson said. “With his experience, background and connections throughout the community makes him a great fit. I have the utmost confidence that he will lead the women’s basketball program in the right direction.”
“This has been my final goal when I got back into coaching was to coach at the college level,” said Turnbull. “You never know if that opportunity will present itself and I am very fortunate to have it now. I have been preparing this moment for a long time and I am ready to hit the ground running.”
Turnbull comes from the high school ranks where he has had great success in short periods of time. Most recently, Turnbull captured two Section VI Class B-2 title in four years at Southwestern Central School. In his four years with the Trojans, Turnbull posted a record of 71-24 while being named to the 2019 Post-Journal Coach of the Year.
Prior to Southwestern, Turnbull spent two seasons at Maple Grove High School where he took his team to one Section VI Class D Championship game. During his time at Maple Grove, Turnbull compiled a record of 24-16 and was also named the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Coach of the Year in 2014.
With his success at the high school level, Turnbull knows that it’s different at the high school level but is ready for the challenge.
“Recruiting is one thing that I am really looking forward to as I take over here at JCC,” Turnbull said. “I will be a strong advocate for our institution and I feel as I can build a relationship with perspective student-athletes and with their parents as well.”
Prior to his high school coaching career, Turnbull has spent his summers since 2010 as a camp instructor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alongside Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer and fifth-most winningest coach in NCAA women’s basketball, Sylvia Hatchell of the Tar Heels.
Turnbull has had some experience coaching at the collegiate level, serving two seasons as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Nazareth College.
A native of Jamestown, Turnbull completed his Juris Doctor at the Syracuse University College of Law in the fall of 1989. Prior to Syracuse, Turnbull received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel to go along with his Associates of Arts in Political Science right here at Jamestown Community College.
The Jayhawks are coming off a 3-8 COVID-19 shortened season where they went 1-4 in Region 3 action. JCC’s season ended after a Region 3 Championship loss against Niagara County Community College back in early April.
“I love playing against good teams and there are plenty within our region,” said Turnbull. “Playing against tougher teams will drive my recruiting for us to compete and bring this program back to what it was and go further. I want to play teams that are at an elite level as it will help us get better and see where we are at prior to region play.”
