Baseball

Jimmy Turk begins his first year as Head Coach at Chandler-Gilbert in the Fall of 2024.

Previoulsy at Oral Roberts University for four years, Turk worked with hitters, outfielders, baserunning, created scouting reports on opposing pitchers, coached first base and assisted in all recruiting efforts. 

In 2024 ORU made its third consecutive NCAA regional appearance (Norman Regional) after claiming the Summit League Tournament Championship. ORU had 6 All-League performers including two outfielders Kyle Booker and Elijah Rodriguez and two draft picks Jacob Hall (8th round) and Brooks Fowler (15th round).

In 2023, Turk helped the Golden Eagles to a 52-14 record and their first trip to the College World Series since 1978. All three starting outfielders garnered All-Summit League honors under Turk's guidance, including Jonah Cox, who led the nation in hits (114) and was named the Summit League Player and Newcomer of the Year. Cox and fellow outfielder Matt Hogan also garnered All-American honors. Offensively, ORU ranked inside the Top 35 in 12 different statistical categories, including hits (2nd), batting average (7th) and runs (9th). The 98 home runs was third all-time in program history. The team had 99 stolen bases, the most since 2003. Individually, Turk was instrumental in the career of ORU's four draftees, Jonah Cox (6th round), Cade Denton (6th round), Jacob Widener (9th round), Mac McCroskey (20th round) and Jacob Godman (Free-Agent). 

In his first two seasons, Turk oversaw the development of five all-conference outfielders, including Joshua Cox, who was named the Summit League Newcomer of the Year in 2021. In 2022 ORU won the Summit League Tournament Championship and earned a birth into the (College Station Regional). Two ORU players were drafted in 2022, Issac Coffey and Jackson Loftin.

Turk was previously an assistant coach at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Arizona for five years. He was the recruiting coordinator, worked with hitters, outfielders and coached first base for the Cougars, while also assisting with the strength and conditioning program. Along with his baseball duties at South Mountain, he was the Sports Information Director for three years and the Student Success coordinator for all nine athletic programs. South Mountain won the ACCAC conference Championship in 2018 with a record of 46-15 and was ranked as high as third nationally. South Mountain was nationally ranked, at one point, in all five of Turk’s years. In Turk’s five years at South Mountain, he coached 50 players that went on to the Division 1 level and three MLB draft picks. One making his big league debut in 2024 in Cade Povich.

Turk spent one season as Head Coach for the Macon Bacon in the Coastal Plain League in the summer of 2020. The Bacon finished with a record of 17-13 and won the Southern Summer Championship. Turk coached eight CPL All-Stars throughout his first summer. He coached 10 players who were signed in the MLB Draft.

Turk was the head coach of the Western Nebraska Pioneers in the Expedition League for two summers (2018-2019). In 2019, the Pioneers went 49-16 and made it to the EL Championship. Pioneers won the 2018 Expedition League Championship in the league’s first season and Turk was named Coach of the Year in the EL with a record of 49-17. Turk coached both All-Star games and had 20 All-Star selections in two years. While in the Expedition League, Turk also coached three future MLB Draft picks.

Turk coached two seasons in the Northwoods League for the Waterloo Bucks (2016-2017) as an assistant coach. He helped in recruiting efforts, was the hitting coach and coached third base. Waterloo went 39-33 in 2017 and tied the first-half franchise win total of 24. Turk coached six NWL All-Stars in his two years in Waterloo. Over his time in Waterloo, Turk coached 18 future MLB Draft picks and a pair of Collegiate Summer All-Americans.

Before coaching at South Mountain Community College, Turk coached for seven years at Slammers Baseball during the fall and summer in Colorado. He also coached for two years at Ponderosa High School and three years at Cherry Creek High School, where he won a state title in 2012. During his time at Slammers, Cherry Creek and Ponderosa, Turk coached 148 players who went on to play college baseball, including 73 who went on to play Division 1 baseball and 23 of whom were selected in the MLB Draft, nine players have made it to the Big Leagues. 

Turk was an associate scout for the Tampa Bay Rays from 2015-2016.

A native of Owasso, Oklahoma, Turk has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management and a minor in Marketing from Colorado State University at Pueblo and currently resides in Chandler, Arizona with his wife Krista and son Kingston.