Murray State women’s basketball Head Coach Rechelle Turner announced on May 1 the hiring of Mark Stephens as the Racers’ associate head coach ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Stephens brings experience in player development and a record of success from previous coaching positions at Purdue, Toledo, and Xavier. His background includes roles in recruiting coordination, player development, opponent scouting, and academic support. At Purdue, he contributed to landing Big Ten Freshman of the Year Mary Ashley Stevenson and helped Caitlyn Harper achieve All-Big Ten honorable mention status during the 2023-24 season.
“Championship cultures are built on character, integrity, and the pursuit of excellence, and Racer women’s basketball is taking an enormous step forward with the hiring of Mark Stephens as associate head coach,” said Turner. “Mark is universally respected across our sport. He is the definition of a servant leader, and is one of the best relationship builders in the game. Mark is an exceptional recruiter, a skill that speaks to his ability to create authentic and meaningful relationships through the caring and consistent investment he offers to every player who will be a candidate to join our program. His remarkable career in athletics and his many experiences, from being a two-sport student-athlete to being a coach at almost every level of basketball, gives him a unique perspective that makes him relatable to both players and parents. We consider our program to be a basketball family, and we are adding the ultimate family man to our staff. Mark is deeply devoted to his family, and that is as important as any quality he brings to our staff. We are incredibly impressed by Mark as a coach; we are even more impressed by him as a human being. Racer women’s basketball just got better today, and we ask Racer Nation to join us in welcoming Coach Stephens to our family!”
Stephens has previously served four seasons at Toledo where he helped guide teams that won two Mid-American Conference regular season championships along with one tournament title. The Rockets made postseason appearances during his tenure including consecutive 29-win campaigns culminating in an NCAA Tournament win over Iowa State in 2023.
Stephens began his college coaching career at Xavier University before working as head varsity girls’ basketball coach at Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School in Indianapolis where his teams posted strong records over multiple seasons with back-to-back conference titles.
Reflecting on joining Murray State’s program Stephens said: “I chose to come to Murray State because the moment you step on campus you feel an instantly sense of belonging… At Murray State you’re surrounded by a community that genuinely loves women’s basketball… That standard isn’t just talked about it’s lived every day… Back-to-Back MVC championships & NCAA appearances speak for themselves… my family and I are extremely excited to be part of what’s next.”
