Joe Turner enters his second season as assistant men’s lacrosse coach in 2018. In his first season, Turner helped Wingate win its first South Atlantic Conference tournament title in program history, as the Bulldogs defeated Queens University of Charlotte on April 29, 2017.
Wingate (13-4 overall) advanced to the NCAA play-offs for the first time since 2001. The Bulldogs were ranked number nine nationally in the final 2017 regular season poll. A school-record eleven student-athletes made the All-SAC team, led by senior attack Austin Murphy (’17), who led the league in total points and assists. Murphy finished his brilliant career as Wingate’s all-time leading scorer.
Turner helped attack Alex Llerandi (‘19) receive honorable mention All-American laurels from the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. Six of his student-athletes found spots on the All-SAC teams: Murphy, Llerandi, attack men Jeremy Sullivan (’18) and Ryan Vogrig (’17) and midfielders Daniel Godwin (’19) and Vinny Aiello (’17).
Prior to joining the Wingate staff, Turner coached two years (2014-16) at his alma mater, Dowling College. He was reunited with Tim Boyle at Dowling, serving as DC’s offensive coordinator. Turner’s resume also includes a stint as the offensive coordinator at Rosemount High School in Rosemount, Minn. from 2012-14, helping the Irish reach its first State Championship appearance in 2014.
Turner was a men’s lacrosse student-athlete for the Dowling College Golden Lions in Oakdale, N.Y. As a senior team captain in 2012, he led Dowling to the program’s first NCAA Division II national championship. Turner began his coaching career for Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) power University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. from 2012-14. He helped lead the Tommies to an unbeaten record and their fourth National Championship victory in the 2014 season.
