Catherria Turner joined the University of Portland women’s basketball staff as an assistant coach in July of 2009. Turner, who spent her freshman year in college playing for the Oregon Ducks, was an assistant coach at the University of Maine last season.
“I am extremely fortunate and honored for the opportunity to be a part of the University of Portland women’s basketball family,” Turner said. “I am especially blessed to have the chance to work under such a great coach and person like Jim Sollars. There is an incredible tradition at UP and I’m looking forward to being a part of it.”
Turner spent one season at Maine where she assisted with all facets of the program, including helping to conduct practices, implement coaching strategies and recruiting prospective student-athletes.
Prior to her stint on the Black Bears’ staff, Turner was an assistant coach and a diversity recruiter at Simpson College. She helped lead the Storm to a school record in wins and to the sweet sixteen of the 2008 NCAA Division III Tournament.
“Catherria brings an enormous amount of experience to the program, so we’re very happy to add her to our staff,” said Sollars. “She is personable, outgoing and knowledgeable. Catherria comes from a basketball family and she is looking to carry on that tradition.”
Turner helped guide Simpson to a 27-3 record during her one season with the Storm. The Storm also tied or broke 16 team records in 2007-08 and featured three players who were named to the All-Iowa Conference Team. Turner helped with the progress of Katelyn Whiton, who was named the MVP of the Iowa Conference and earned All-America honors.
A native of Tucson, Ariz., Turner graduated from Oklahoma State in 2005 and began working towards her master’s degree. As a senior, Turner was a team captain and was named to the 2006 All-Academic Big 12 team. She also led the country in minutes played and was seventh in assists before an injury cut short her senior campaign.
Turner began her playing career at Oregon, where she helped the Ducks win the 2002 WNIT Title.
From 2004-06, Turner served as the head coach of the Tucson Miracles, an AAU girls basketball program. She graduated from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s NIKE “So You Want To Be A Coach” program at the 2007 NCAA Women’s Final Four.
Turner, who averaged a triple-double (29.9 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 10.0 spg) during her senior season at Ampitheater High School in Tucson, had her high school jersey retired during the summer of 2009. She was also inducted into the Ampitheater Hall of Fame.