FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, May 9, 2011
MARK TURGEON
“I accepted the Maryland job earlier tonight. It was just too good an offer for me to pass on. The thing that made it the most difficult was the players. Those guys have done everything I’ve asked for four years and we’ve had a great ride. (Director of Athletics) Bill Byrne has been really good to me too. Those are the hardest parts of the whole thing. It’s been a tough day. I’ve been back and forth many times. I just felt like Maryland was a great opportunity for me and my family.
“I told the players it was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. Marriage was easy for me, I knew I was in love. Going to KU was easy, that’s where I always wanted to play college basketball. Going to Wichita State was easy. Going to Texas A&M was an easy choice. Today was one of the hardest choices I’ve had to make because of the young men in that locker room.”
On the decision: “Maryland’s got a great basketball tradition. (These programs are) real similar. It’s a gut feeling. Both programs are great. I’m a blessed person to have the choice that I had to make today. They’re both great programs. The one thing I feel good about is I inherited a good team and I think I’m leaving my best team behind. That made the decision really hard, but I feel good about what I’m leaving behind for the next guy to continue what Billy (Gillispie) and I have started.”
On what he’ll miss about Texas A&M: “This is an unbelievable campus, and what it represents, the core values. It’s really a classy university, a tremendous university. I’m going to miss the respect that this university has. I was really blown away from day one with that part of it. The number one thing I’m going to miss is the players. Hopefully in time they’ll know I’ll always be there to help them.”
No comments have been posted yet, be the first!
Post a comment by filling out the form below.
