Coach Turnbull graduated from Bemidji State University in 1981 with a degree in Secondary Education and pitched on the Beaver baseball team. He graduated in 1990 from the U.S. Sports Academy with a M.S.S. Degree in Sports Management. He began  his coaching/teaching career in 1981 in Lake Park H.S. in Lake Park, MN. Coach taught & coached at High Schools in Lake Park, Ely, Norwood and Wadena, MN from 1981-1993. He spent 4 years at Central Lakes College in Brainerd, MN and 20 years at Hibbing CC in Hibbing, MN before briefly retiring in 2017. 

     Coach Turnbull joined the Iowa Lakes staff in August of 2019. Over the years he has served as the head coach of several teams. On the high school level boys' basketball and baseball, also girls' volleyball. At the college level men's and women's basketball, baseball and women's volleyball. He has spent countless summers coaching teams and camps in baseball, basketball and baseball. He has also found time to author 8 books since 2012. 

     "I feel blessed to have been a part of so many kid's lives over the years and I have cherished every part of my career path. The wins, losses, practices, travel all over the country, all of it. I am grateful that my wife Pam, daughter and son have supported me the whole way, none of it would have been possible without their sacrifices, love and support. I look forward to continuing the journey."

                                                                Coach Turnbull's Coaching Philosophy

     My coaching philosophy is a simple one, I treat my student-athletes as people first, students second and athletes third. In all my thoughts, words, and actions, I attempt to teach the young adults I coach to be good people first, responsible and successful students second. The last point of focus is the level of performance as athletes.

     In being concerned with my student-athletes socially and academically as well as athletically, my commitment goes well beyond the court, field and the immediate years I spend coaching them. I realize they are adults but I also feel that any positive guidance I can lend them is time and energy well spent.

     Over the years I have experienced many successes and defeats with my players. I have always felt proud of the positive accomplishments that we have experienced in the realm of athletics. My proudest moments have come when my players graduate or I hear of their successful careers or that they have turned out to be solid responsible citizens.

     I feel winning is important but I also feel that the truly meaningful lessons in athletics come from learning to do the everyday physical, mental and emotional preparation that is necessary to position oneself to be successful. These are the lessons that are taken from participation in athletics that help us be succesful people, students, employees, community and family members. These lessons, if learned honestly, will help us for a lifetime.

    As a coach I am a role model and it is not only important to tell student-athletes that this is my philosophy but to show them in my actions. How I treat people and how I live out my life on a day to day basis. My family is the most important aspect of my life and I have always treated my teams as an extension of my family.