Jamie Craighead Turner is back on the University of San Francisco women's basketball coaching staff for the 2026‑27 season, assuming an expanded role that merges on‑court leadership with administrative oversight.
The university announced that Turner will serve simultaneously as associate head coach and general manager, a dual capacity designed to streamline player development, roster construction and strategic planning under a single leadership umbrella.
Turner’s return follows a high‑profile stint as Director of Basketball at ISI Academy in Walnut Creek, Calif., where she cultivated a reputation for integrating analytics into player development and elevating talent to competitive levels.
During her initial tenure with USF in the 2024‑25 season, she helped the Dons finish 15‑16 overall and secure fifth place in the West Coast Conference, laying a foundation for future growth.
Prior to ISI Academy, Turner guided San Jose State to an 89‑win stretch that included two appearances in the Mountain West Conference Tournament and the nation’s most significant single‑season win turnaround in 2019‑20.
From 2009 to 2013 she also coached Sacramento State, where she set multiple program records and led the team to the top defensive rankings in the Big Sky Conference.
Turner’s playing pedigree includes three NCAA Tournament appearances at the University of Oregon and a WNIT championship in 2002, experiences that shape her coaching philosophy.
Off the court, Turner is married to former USF student‑athlete Melanie Turner, a personal connection that adds a layer of continuity for the program’s community.
A New Chapter for USF Women's Basketball
University athletic director Carla Rivera praised Turner’s blend of playing experience, coaching acumen and managerial vision, stating that her appointment aligns with the school’s long‑term goal of competing at the top tier of the West Coast Conference.
Fans and alumni have responded enthusiastically, viewing the move as a homecoming that could rekindle the program’s storied success of earlier decades.
With the 2026‑27 season on the horizon, all eyes will be on the Dons as they look to translate Turner’s expanded leadership into on‑court victories and sustained program growth.