Russell Turner receives 5-year contract at UCI

UC Irvine men’s basketball coach Russell Turner, who led the Anteaters to the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament for the first time in school history, has received a new five-year contract that will extend through the 2019-20 season.

Finalization of the contract agreed upon in March was announced Thursday.

Turner, who was hired as UCI’s head coach in April 2010, signed an extension in November, 2013 that will be superseded by the new contract.

Turner, who is entering his sixth season at UCI, led the Anteaters to the program’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in March. UCI, seeded No. 13, led in the final minute before falling to No. 4-seeded Louisville, 57-55, in an NCAA second round game in Seattle on March 20.

Within a week of the near-upset, Turner was courted by George Mason, which made him an offer to be its head coach. But Turner said he chose to remain at UCI, turning down more money from the school based in Fairfax, Va.

Turner guided the ‘Eaters to the program’s first Big West Conference Tournament title in March as UCI defeated UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara and Hawaii at the Honda Center to gain the conference’s automatic NCAA berth.

UCI was 21-13 last season and has won 65 games under Turner over the last three years, including 35 victories in Big West games and the 2013-14 conference regular-season crown.

“We are excited that Russell is remaining with the UC Irvine basketball program,” Athletic Director Mike Izzi said. “His considerable efforts and contributions have led our program to historical success, and he has elevated our basketball program into the top echelon of the Big West Conference and one that is competitive on the national level.

“Russell and his staff have recruited student-athletes of high character who are exceptional representatives of the university and the community. Under Coach Turner’s leadership, the UCI program has attracted a great deal of interest from the campus, community and throughout the nation,” Izzi said.

The ‘Eaters have advanced to the postseason each of the last three seasons, including the NIT in 2014 and the CIT in 2013.

UCI is consistently one of the top defensive teams in the nation and set a school record last season for fewest points allowed (62.1 per game). The Anteaters have won 48 of their last 50 games when holding opponents to 60 or fewer points.

Fifteen of Turner’s UCI players have earned all-conference honors in the last five years, along with two “Best Defensive” and two “Best Hustle” awards. Will Davis II was named the 2015 Big West Tournament MVP.

Turner was named Big West and NABC District 9 Coach of the Year in 2014 after leading UCI to a 23-12 record, including 13-3 in the Big West to earn Anteaters’ first conference regular-season title in 12 years. The 23 wins tied for the second-most in program history.

— From staff reports