M. K. Turk
- May 20, 1942
- December 6, 2013
- 71 years
About M. K. Turk
M. K. Turk, 71, American college basketball coach (Southern Miss).
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Full Biography
|M. K. Turk (May 20, 1942 – December 6, 2013) was an American college basketball player and coach.
A native of Bardwell, Kentucky, Turk played basketball at Carlisle County High School from 1957 to 1960. He was the junior captain and an all-state JUCO player at Copiah-Lincoln Community College from 1960 to 1962. Turk later played for Livingston University in the now-defunct Alabama Collegiate Conference from 1963 to 1964. He was the lead scorer on his team. Livingston University named him Most Valuable Player and Most Outstanding Athlete. He was also recognized by Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
After his graduation, he was the graduate assistant coach for Livingston University from 1964 to 1965. From 1965 to 1967, he coached at Cobb County High School in Cobb County, Georgia. He returned to Livingston University to be the assistant coach from 1967 to 1968. From 1968 to 1974, he was the athletic director and head basketball coach at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. His team was named third in the nation and were Region VII champions in 1973. The National Junior College Athletic Association named him the Regional Coach of the Year in 1973. He then acted as the assistant basketball coach at Memphis State University from 1974 to 1976.
He was head coach of the University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles from 1976 to 1996. In 1986, he was named the Metro Conference Coach of the Year. He appeared at the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) six times and took the championship in 1987. The same year, he was named the NIT Coach of the Year. He appeared at the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship in 1990 and 1991. In 1991, the team was ranked among the top 25 college basketball teams in the United States, and Mississippi sportswriters named him Coach of the Year. The team won the Metro Conference Tournament championship in 1995. During his time coaching at Southern Mississippi, his teams accumulated a total of 300 wins and 267 losses, making him the winningest men's basketball coach in the history of the school.
In 1981, Turk was inducted to the Livingston University Athletic Hall of Fame, and then to the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1991, he was inducted to the Southern Mississippi Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2005, Turk was inducted to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. Turk died on December 6, 2013, at the age of 71. He was survived by his wife, Katrina, and their two daughters.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._K._Turk
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
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- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from M. K. Turk's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was M. K. Turk born?
- A.December 6, 1940
- B.May 20, 1942correct
- C.May 20, 1940
- D.December 6, 1942
M. K. Turk was born on May 20, 1942.
Source: biography opening
2.Where was M. K. Turk born?
- A.Livingston, Alabama
- B.Bardwell, Kentuckycorrect
- C.Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- D.Cobb County, Georgia
M. K. Turk was a native of Bardwell, Kentucky.
Source: early life section
3.During which years did M. K. Turk attend Carlisle County High School?
- A.1963 to 1964
- B.1957 to 1960correct
- C.1960 to 1962
- D.1964 to 1965
M. K. Turk played basketball at Carlisle County High School from 1957 to 1960.
Source: high school years
4.What honors did Livingston University bestow upon M. K. Turk?
- A.Regional Champion and Hall of Fame inductee
- B.All-American and Scholar Athlete
- C.Most Valuable Player and Most Outstanding Athletecorrect
- D.Coach of the Year and Team Captain
Livingston University named M. K. Turk as their Most Valuable Player and Most Outstanding Athlete.
Source: college playing career
5.M. K. Turk served as a graduate assistant coach for which institution from 1964 to 1965?
- A.University of Southern Mississippi
- B.Livingston Universitycorrect
- C.Memphis State University
- D.Copiah-Lincoln Community College
After graduation, M. K. Turk was the graduate assistant coach for Livingston University from 1964 to 1965.
Source: early coaching career
6.In what year was M. K. Turk named the Regional Coach of the Year by the National Junior College Athletic Association?
- A.1986
- B.1973correct
- C.1976
- D.1974
The National Junior College Athletic Association named M. K. Turk the Regional Coach of the Year in 1973.
Source: Copiah-Lincoln career
7.Between 1974 and 1976, M. K. Turk served as an assistant basketball coach at which university?
- A.Memphis State Universitycorrect
- B.Livingston University
- C.University of Southern Mississippi
- D.Carlisle County University
M. K. Turk acted as the assistant basketball coach at Memphis State University from 1974 to 1976.
Source: coaching history
8.Which tournament did M. K. Turk's team win in 1987?
- A.Metro Conference Tournament
- B.NCAA Division I Championship
- C.Regional VII Championship
- D.National Invitation Tournamentcorrect
M. K. Turk appeared at the National Invitation Tournament six times and took the championship in 1987.
Source: Southern Mississippi career
9.How many total wins did M. K. Turk accumulate during his time coaching at the University of Southern Mississippi?
- A.350 wins
- B.267 wins
- C.200 wins
- D.300 winscorrect
During his time at Southern Mississippi, his teams accumulated 300 wins and 267 losses.
Source: Southern Mississippi legacy
10.In what year was M. K. Turk inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame?
- A.1991
- B.2005correct
- C.1981
- D.1987
In 2005, M. K. Turk was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
Source: hall of fame inductions
11.What was the age of M. K. Turk at the time of his death?
- A.73
- B.69
- C.75
- D.71correct
M. K. Turk died on December 6, 2013, at the age of 71.
Source: death section
12.Who survived M. K. Turk?
- A.His wife Katrina and one daughter
- B.His wife Katrina and their two daughterscorrect
- C.His parents and two daughters
- D.His wife and two sons
M. K. Turk was survived by his wife, Katrina, and their two daughters.
Source: death section
13.What award was given to M. K. Turk by Mississippi sportswriters in 1991?
- A.Athletic Director of the Year
- B.Coach of the Yearcorrect
- C.Most Valuable Player
- D.Hall of Fame Inductee
In 1991, Mississippi sportswriters named M. K. Turk Coach of the Year.
Source: Southern Mississippi career
14.At which institution was M. K. Turk an athletic director?
- A.Copiah-Lincoln Community Collegecorrect
- B.Livingston University
- C.University of Southern Mississippi
- D.Cobb County High School
From 1968 to 1974, M. K. Turk was the athletic director and head basketball coach at Copiah-Lincoln Community College.
Source: Copiah-Lincoln career
15.When was M. K. Turk inducted into the Southern Mississippi Athletic Hall of Fame?
- A.1987
- B.1991correct
- C.2005
- D.1986
In 1991, M. K. Turk was inducted to the Southern Mississippi Athletic Hall of Fame.
Source: hall of fame inductions
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