University of Connecticut Athletics
Dave Turgeon Named Associate Head Coach
8/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
STORRS, CT (August 4, 2003) -- Dave Turgeon, who has enjoyed a successful baseball career on both the collegiate and professional levels, has been named associate head coach of baseball at the University of Connecticut.
Turgeon spent the 2002-2003 academic year as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Boston College. Prior to his appointment at BC, he enjoyed a 13-year professional playing career – the first five in the field where he advanced to the AA level, the last eight as a pitcher where he rose to the AAA level – and then managed and coached three years in the Cleveland Indians organization. A 1987 graduate of Davidson (N.C.) College, Turgeon followed his collegiate career by playing professional ball both in the United States and overseas.
From 1987-90, he was an infielder in the New York Yankees system and played for both Stump Merrill and Buck Showalter. From 1991-1999, he played in Holland (1991), France (1992), Taiwan (1993-96, 1998) and Mexico (1997-99). In 1998, he returned to the United States and played for the Rochester Red Wings, the Baltimore Orioles’ Class AAA affiliate.
During his playing career, Turgeon earned numerous accolades. He was a three-time all-star selection in Taiwan. He captured 1998 Player of the Year honors with the Reynosa Broncos, a Class AAA team in the Mexican League. After concluding his playing career, Turgeon served in various coaching capacities with the Indians. Among his positions he managed the Burlington Indians of the Appalachian League (2000); managed the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the New York-Penn League (2001); and worked at the Indians’ extended spring training in Winter Haven, Fla. (2002). Turgeon was a three-time All Southern Conference selection at third base at Davidson, and was an All-Region pick his senior year.
A native of Groton, Conn. and a graduate of St. Bernard High School, Turgeon comes from a family of talented athletes. His brothers, Mike and Steve, both played collegiate baseball in Connecticut – Mike at Eastern Connecticut State University and Steve at Central Connecticut. His sister Cheryl was a standout softball player for Eastern Connecticut State University. Mike went on to play with the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants minor league affiliates, and Steve played in the St. Louis Cardinals’ minor league system. Mike was named the Topps/NABPL 1978 Minor League Player of the Year.
