SPORTS

 

 

After 14 seasons with the Davidson field hockey program, coach Ginny Turner is moving on.

Turner informed her team of her resignation during a team meeting Monday afternoon.

Turner, her husband Rett and their family plan to return to their native Richmond, Va.

“I cannot begin to express my gratitude to Davidson College, the athletic department and this community for making the past 14 years here so amazing,” said Turner. “It has been an honor to coach the remarkable scholar-athletes here and be a part of such a special program. The DCFH players have truly made my time at Davidson so special, and I feel so lucky to have been part of this team.”

Turner spent the last 12 years as head coach and guided the Wildcats through the transition to the Atlantic 10 Conference in 2014. She was named the 2015 A-10 Coach of the Year as Melissa Funsten ’15, Anna Davis ’15 and Emily Leytham ’15 earned all-conference honors.

Under Turner’s tutelage, the Wildcats have flourished both on the field and in the classroom. Christine Rua was the 2012 winner of Davidson’s Rebecca A. Stimson Award as Davidson’s top female athlete and was also the NorPac’s Sherly Johnson Academic Award recipient. Two-time NorPac East Offensive Player of the Year Finley Amato ’13 became the program’s all-time leader in goals, points and assists in 2012 before earning All-NorPac First Team honors to cap the season as, on the other end of the field, Sarah Fisher was Defensive Player of the Year. Katherine English ’17 and Courtney Byler ’18 each set the single-season assists record under Turner’s watch. Byler also broke the single-season mark for defensive saves, a feat she repeated in 2017.

“I want to thank former AD Jim Murphy for taking a chance on me as a young head coach and new AD Chris Clunie for his immediate support,” she said. “I feel so fortunate to have worked with so many other incredible coaches, athletic trainers and other support staff here at Davidson. The DCFH players, families and alumnae are tremendous, and it has been an honor to be a part of this. Davidson is a place that does things right, and I am confident in this team and what they are capable of doing. I know that the future of DCFH is bright.” 

In 2010, Turner helped Davidson claim its first outright NorPac East division title after going 5-1 in league play and finishing with 14 wins overall, its most in 18 years. Under Turner’s guidance, the Wildcats almost doubled their offensive production from the previous year with a team-record 60 goals.

She took the reins of the program in 2007 after two years as an assistant coach and her 89 wins rank second on the DCFH coaching list.

“Ginny has left a lasting impact on the Davidson field hockey program,” said Director of Athletics Chris Clunie. “Over the past 12 years, she built a competitive program grounded in toughness and determination. Her players have been model Davidson scholar-athletes, achieving success both on and off the field. Ginny also built a family – she served as the central spark that brought current players, former players, families and the Davidson community together, creating a strong team culture of community and excellence. We are sad to see her leave, but we wish her and her family nothing but best wishes in their next chapter.”

Turner was a four-year letterwinner at William & Mary and capped her impressive playing career with a selection to the NFHCA Division I North/South Senior All-Star Team in 2004. A starting forward, Turner helped the Tribe to four straight top-15 national rankings and led her team to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2002.

A national search for the next head field hockey coach will begin immediately.