KYLE NIXON

Change Page*EDITOR’S NOTE- This story orginally ran in 2012 as a part of the Class of 2012 Troy Sports Hall of Fame ceremony.* National championship quarterback as a freshman and as a senior. That’s no ordinary accomplishment, but Troy State’s Mike Turk did just that during his career in the 1980s. During his four years in Troy, Turk helped the Trojans to an outstanding 40-8-1 record from 1984 to 1987. He was a three-time All-Gulf South Conference selection, and also earned All-America honors in 1987 after leading Troy State to its second national championship during his tenure. He was the runner-up for the Harlon Hill Award that season which is given annually to the top NCAA Division II player. In 1984, Turk’s career began with a bang as he was named Freshman of the Year in the Gulf South Conference and led the Trojans to the NCAA Division II National Championship with a victory over North Dakota State. In 1987, Turk led an offense that averaged 430.4 yards per game as the Trojans won 12 straight games en route to Troy State’s second Division II National Championship in four seasons. In the championship game, Turk rallied the Trojans from 10-3 halftime deficit, as he set a championship game record with 190 yards on 25 carries. While playing quarterback, Turk finished his career as the second leading rusher in school history with 2,533 yards and currently ranks fourth on the all-time list. He is second alltime in Troy history with 32 career rushing touchdowns and ranks among the top 10 in total offense, passing yards, pass attempts, completions and touchdown passes. “I knew about him when he was at Jeff Davis High School in Montgomery,” Troy football head coach Larry Blakeney said of Turk. “He came to Troy to run the wishbone; he was a tough and cagy guy, and the offense was perfect for him. His ability to read the triple option was great, and for a smaller athlete ‘he was a very physical runner and a tremendous competitor.” Following his senior campaign, Turk was the first person to be chosen as the Alabama Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Year and Small College Athlete of the Year. Following his playing career as one of the Trojans’ most decorated players, Turk joined the Troy State coaching staff as an assistant under Blakeney in 1991 and remained at his alma mater for 13 years, coaching the Trojans running backs. During Turk’s time at Troy State, nine running backs were named all-conference, and four running backs – Arrid Gregory, Eddie Coleman, Joe Jackson and DeWhitt Betterson – rushed for more than 2,000 yards in their careers. “He understands the game and coaches the way he played,” Blakeney said. “He’s a player’s coach, he worked them hard and he works extremely hard to get his player’s prepared for every Saturday.” During his tenure at his alma mater, Turk played or coach in 20 of the Trojans’ 28 postseason games. In May of 2004, Turk was named the head coach at Division III Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala., taking over the program in just its second year of existence. In 2013, Turk was named the Director of Athletics in addition to his head football coach duties. In 2005, Turk guided the Hawks to the program’s first winning season in school history with a 7-2 record. Four years later, the Hawks made their first Division III playoff appearance. In December of 2007, Turk was inducted into the Division II Football Hall of Fame. A native of Montgomery, Ala., Turk and his wife Danielle have two sons, Jimbo and Jake.