CONWAY, Ark. – The University of Central Arkansas chose a former Bear to stay in Conway and take over as head men's golf coach, as Athletic Director Matt Whiting announces the elevation of Josh Turnock to lead the Bears on the course.
 
"I am excited to announce Josh Turnock as our Head Men's Golf Coach. Josh has served our men's golf program as a Student-Athlete, Graduate Assistant, Interim Head Coach, and now Head Coach," Whiting said, "Stepping in this spring on an interim basis, Josh did an outstanding job and led our program to our first Atlantic Sun Conference title in men's golf."
 
Turnock played for four seasons as a member of the men's golf team, helping see the Bears move from the Southland to the ASUN. After finishing his playing career, the Manchester, England native stayed on as graduate assistant, and this season, took over at semester as interim head coach.
 
"I'm really thankful for the chance to stay on as head coach. UCA has been a big part of my life, and getting to lead this program – at the place where I played – means a lot to me," Turnock said. "We made some great progress this past season, and I'm excited to keep building on that with this group of guys."
 
In five regular season tournaments, the Bears finished in the top-five in four of those, including a second-place finish in New Orleans and a fifth-place showing at Mizzou. Then, the Bears shot one of the greatest rounds in ASUN Championship and Central Arkansas history, opening up a nine-stroke lead after day one. That lead carried the Bears to the finish line, where Noah Blaickner finished second and Jack Wilson placed sixth as the Bears claimed their first ASUN Championship. Turnock then led the team to its first NCAA Regional, playing in Reno for the program's first national postseason as a Division I program.
 
"His experiences and knowledge of the game will serve our program well, and I look forward to working with him as the new leader of Central Arkansas Men's Golf," Whiting added.