Oklahoma's K.T. Turner hired as Kentucky's third assistant

John Calipari has his guy, hiring Oklahoma associate head coach K.T. Turner as Kentucky’s third and final assistant.

Kyle Tucker of The Athletic was the first to break the news.

John Calipari has his man.

K.T. Turner, associate head coach at Oklahoma (and former Texas and SMU), will be Kentucky's third assistant, sources tell @TheAthletic.

Cal wanted a player-development specialist with Texas recruiting ties.https://t.co/5KWa77MSwA

— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) May 31, 2022

Turner previously served as the associate head coach at Texas and SMU, bringing 16 years of collegiate coaching experience to Calipari’s staff in Lexington.

The newest Kentucky assistant spent the 2020-21 season in Texas, helping lead the Longhorns to a 19-8 record and the Big 12 Championship. He previously spent seven years on staff at SMU, including four as the associate head coach. The Mustangs compiled an overall record of 169-71 (.693) in that span, including two AAC regular season titles and two conference tournament championships. SMU also appeared in the AP Top 25 in four of his seven years with the program.

During that span, Turner worked under then-head coach Larry Brown — a Hall of Famer and close friend of Calipari — for three seasons.

Beyond his time at Oklahoma, Texas and SMU, the newest Wildcat was also an assistant at Wichita State in 2012-13, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in 2011-12, Hutchinson Community College (2009-11), Cowley College (2008-09), Redlands Community College (2006-07) and Panola Community College (2005-06).

As a player, Turner shined at Oklahoma City University, leading the Stars to the 2002 Sooner Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles. He transferred to OCU after playing his first two years at Hutchinson Community College under Jankovich and his junior season at UT-Arlington. Following his collegiate playing career, Turner played professionally for Benneton Treviso in Italy from 2002-05 before becoming a coach.

Turner replaces former assistant coach Jai Lucas, who recently took the same job at Duke under new head coach Jon Scheyer. The 44-year-old coach joins Orlando Antigua and Chin Coleman on staff at Kentucky.