Turner Battle

Assistant Coach

East Tennessee State University men’s basketball head coach Jason Shay announced the hiring of Turner Battle as an assistant coach on Thursday, May 21, 2020.

Battle comes to Johnson City with 13 years of coaching experience, which includes stints at Buffalo (2007-13), Chattanooga (2013-14) most-recently at UAB (2014-20), where he spent the last four years as an associate head coach.

During his time in Birmingham, Battle helped guide the Blazers to four 20-plus win seasons and  three postseason appearances, including a win over Iowa State in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. In Battle’s first season at UAB, the Blazers won 20 games and captured their first-ever Conference USA Tournament title. The following season, in 2015-16, Battle played an integral role in UAB winning a program-record 26 games, along with a 16-2 record in conference play, marking the Blazers’ first regular season championship since 2010-11. UAB secured its second consecutive postseason berth as the Blazers made their 12th trip to the National Invitational Tournament. Battle saw UAB win 20 games in 2017-18 and 2018-19, which resulted in a trip to the 2019 College Basketball Invitational.

Battle saw nine players earn all-conference honors at UAB, including William Lee becoming the first player in program history to win Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year award honors in back-to-back seasons, while Robert Brown captured CUSA Tournament MVP honors in 2015.

Prior to arriving at UAB, Battle spent one season in the Southern Conference where he was an assistant at Chattanooga in 2013-14. The Mocs finished second in the conference and played ETSU in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.

Battle began his coaching career at his alma mater, Buffalo, where he served as an assistant from 2007-13. During his time with the Bulls, Battle’s main duties were focused on developing Buffalo’s backcourt and recruiting. His pupils include John Boyer, who led the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio in 2010, All-MAC performer Byron Mulkey and Buffalo single-season assist record holder Jarod Oldham.

Battle played four seasons with the Bulls under head coach Reggie Witherspoon from 2001-02 – 2004-05. During his four seasons in Buffalo, Battle scored 1,414 points, grabbed 502 rebounds, dished out 458 assists and totaled 170 steals in 112 games (111 starts). Battle averaged 15.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.4 steals his senior year en route to becoming Buffalo’s first-ever Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. Battle, a three-time Academic All-MAC and two-time All-MAC selection, also earned 2005 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American honors. Battle, who became the first player in program history to compile 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists, was inducted into Buffalo’s Hall of Fame in 2010.

Following a stellar collegiate career, Battle played professionally in Estonia, France and Sweden, as well as in the NBA Developmental League (Fort Worth Flyers) and the American Basketball Association (Buffalo Rapids).

Battle earned a master’s degree in sports administration from Canisius College in 2016.

Battle and his wife Clare have three children Maya, Reena and Turner Jr.