Mark Turgeon has taken the reins of the Kansas City Roos men’s basketball program, bringing a fresh energy to a team that has struggled to find its footing in recent seasons.
The new coach’s office at the University of Missouri–Kansas City sits stark and campaign‑like, a visual reminder of the work ahead, while a rendering of a reimagined Municipal Auditorium hangs as a symbol of the crowd he hopes to fill.
A New Era for the Roos
He arrived with a recruiting class that includes nine freshmen, the largest in his 24‑year coaching career, and a focus on the best high school talent from the Kansas City metro area.
Local Talent Takes Center Stage
The headliner is three‑star guard Cameron Love from Olathe North, the third‑ranked prospect in Kansas, who joins DJ Jackson of Piper and Oak Park’s Josh Kori, each of whom grew up playing together on the Under Armour Circuit.
Their teammate Will Goode, a three‑star forward from St. Thomas Aquinas and the second‑ranked player in the state, also committed after a prep year at New Hampton School, completing a core of local prospects.
Goode’s commitment, following a week after Love, Jackson and Kori, marks the beginning of what the program calls the highest‑rated recruiting class in UMKC history, according to 247Sports.
Turgeon’s past includes a breakthrough at Wichita State, where he guided the Shockers to their first NCAA Tournament in 16 years and a Sweet 16 run in 2006, and a long stint at Maryland before returning to the Midwest.
He now hopes to translate that success to UMKC, aiming to reach the NCAA Tournament despite the program’s recent woes, and he tells players and donors alike, “Don’t put a limit on our program.”
The message resonates with a community eager for a fresh start, as Turgeon spreads the word in gyms, at donor events, and through social media, urging fans to fill the Power & Light District after victories.
While Kansas, Missouri and Kansas State dominate the regional basketball landscape, Turgeon believes the Roos can carve out their own niche by building around hometown talent and a culture of high expectations.
With summer workouts underway and the new roster taking shape, Turgeon remains confident that the pieces are falling into place, and he is already looking ahead to a season where wins are expected, not hoped for.