Summary: Mike Turk became Huntingdon College's second head football coach in May 2004 and added the title of Director of Athletics in March 2013. As a football coach, Turk has been at the helm for every win in program history. Arriving on the heels of Huntingdon's winless first season (0-7 in 2003), he has turned the program into a consistent winner with an 80-38 record. In 12 seasons he has guided the program to its first win (2004), first winning season (2005), first playoff appearance (2009), first regular-season national ranking (2012), first conference championship (2015) and first playoff victory (2015). During his first season, Turk led the Hawks to a 4-5 record, including the program's first victory, a 35-21 win against Southwestern Assemblies of God University. Huntingdon was 7-2 during Turk's second season, the first winning record for a Huntingdon team. The Hawks have not had a losing season since. A graduate of Jeff Davis High School in Montgomery, Turk was a walk-on quarterback for Troy State University in the spring of 1984. He became a prominent figure on the field and sideline for the Trojans during the next two decades. Turk was a Troy assistant for 13 seasons before returning to his hometown roots. When he left Troy for Huntingdon, Turk had played or coached in 20 of the Trojans' 22 postseason games While at Troy, Turk became one of the most decorated players in school history. He led the program to NCAA Division II national championships in 1984 and 1987. His teams were 40-8-1 in four seasons. Turk was selected as an All-Conference performer in the Gulf South Conference three times and was runner-up for the prestigious Harlon Hill Trophy, given to the nation's top Division II performer. He was a consensus All-America selection as a senior and was named GSC Freshman of the Year in 1984. Following his senior year, Turk was named the Division II Offensive Player of the Year by Football News. He was the first person to be chosen as the Alabama Sports Writers Association's Small College Athlete of the Year and Athlete of the Year in the same season. Turk is the Trojans' fifth all-time leading rusher with 2,533 yards and holds the record for rushing yards by a quarterback. His 32 career rushing touchdowns ranks third and is tops among Troy quarterbacks. Turk's 6,707 yards of career total offense ranks fourth and his 62 touchdowns responsible for (passing and rushing) are third all-time. In the spring of 2012, Turk was one of 11 inducted into the inaugural Troy University Athletic Hall of Fame. In addition to his mark left in Troy, Turk was enshrined as a member of the ninth class of the NCAA Division II Football Hall of Fame in December of 2007. As Troy's running backs coach, Turk was responsible for building one of the nation's most consistent running games. Three of his running backs (Eddie Coleman, Arrid Gregory and Joe Jackson) rushed for more than 2,000 career yards. In 1997, Jackson broke Turk's school record for career rushing touchdowns with 34. During his 12 seasons as running backs coach at Troy, Turk had nine players to earn all-conference honors. Turk earned his undergraduate degree in physical education and a master's degree in education from Troy State. He is married to the former Danielle Warren of Alexander City. They have two sons, Jimbo and Jake.
