Football
- Title:
- Defensive Tackles/Defensive Run Game Coordinator
- Instagram:
A veteran of more than 15 seasons as a defensive line coach in the SEC, David Turner is in his second season overseeing Texas A&M’s defensive tackles and serving as the defensive run-game coordinator.
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Widely regarded as one of the top defensive line coaches in the nation, Turner came to Texas A&M from Mississippi State where he spent six seasons in two stints – 2007-09 and 2013-15.
A veteran of 30 years as a collegiate coach with 16 seasons of experience in the SEC, Turner mentored current NFL standouts Fletcher Cox, Kyle Love, Pernell McPhee, Josh Boyd and most recently Preston Smith.
Turner’s defensive fronts at MSU earned a reputation for being consistently disruptive and putting pressure on the opposing quarterback. Over the past two seasons, the Bulldogs piled up over 180 tackles for loss, including 68 quarterback sacks. In 2015, the Bulldogs set a school record with 98 tackles for loss, while the 2014 unit produced 37 sacks, which ranked No. 2 in the SEC and were the third-most in school history.
At Kentucky, Turner helped the defense improve in tackles for loss, sacks and rushing yards allowed from the year prior to his hire. The Wildcats improved their sacks-per-game average each season under Turner’s watch, posting more than two per game in 2012.
Turner originally joined the MSU staff in 2007 after one season at Alabama. He coached the Crimson Tide defensive ends during his lone campaign in Tuscaloosa. Alabama finished 23rd nationally in total defense in 2006 and advanced to the Independence Bowl.
Prior to Alabama, Turner was the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Vanderbilt from 2002-05. One of his linemen, tackle Jovan Haye, went on to the NFL. Vanderbilt had a significant upgrade in talent level during Turner’s term as recruiting coordinator as he helped bring in the players for the Commodores’ eventual Music City Bowl championship in 2008.
A native of Goldston, N.C., Turner also has worked in the Big Ten Conference at Minnesota (2001), where he worked with the defensive ends, and in the Atlantic Coast Conference at Virginia (1997-2000), where he coached defensive tackles and linebackers. He also was co-special teams coordinator in his final season. The Cavaliers played in the Peach Bowl, Micronpc.com Bowl and the Oahu Classic during his term there.
Turner began his collegiate coaching career in 1986 as an assistant at his alma mater, Davidson College. He worked with the running backs and tight ends over a two-year stretch. In 1988, he moved to North Carolina State, serving two years as a defensive graduate assistant. He worked with a Wolfpack unit that ranked first in the ACC in total defense in 1988 while playing in the Peach Bowl and Copper Bowl.
He spent one year as the defensive line coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, helping the team to a 12-2 overall record while reaching the Division II national championship game. He also worked two seasons at James Madison, helping the Dukes to a 9-4 record and a berth in the 1991 Division I-AA playoffs.
Turner returned to the Division I-A ranks in 1993. He spent two seasons as defensive ends coach at Kentucky, where he helped the Wildcats advance to the ‘93 Peach Bowl. In 1995, he went back to NC State, coaching defensive ends and linebackers before going to Virginia in ‘97.
Turner, who graduated from Davidson in 1985 with a degree in sociology, is married to the former Yvette Modica and the couple has two daughters, Bianca and Alexyia.
(08-2017)
