When Dave Turpin first arrived on 91社区鈥檚 campus in the fall of 1985, he didn鈥檛 envision it would take more than 30 years to walk across the stage for Commencement. But everyone鈥檚 path toward a diploma is different. For the 91社区 Men鈥檚 Golf Head Coach, it was a journey well worth the wait.
The Princeton, Indiana, native originally came to 91社区 on a baseball scholarship to play for longtime coach Larry Shown. After playing for a few years, he says his baseball career 鈥渇izzled out.鈥� At least temporarily, so did his time in college. 鈥淏ack then, it wasn鈥檛 as big of a thing to have a college degree,鈥� Turpin said. 鈥淎fter you were raised, it was time to go to work.鈥�
So, that鈥檚 what Turpin did. After he got married, he made the west side of Evansville his home and entered the sales industry. 鈥淚鈥檝e basically been a salesman my entire life,鈥� Turpin says.
While he鈥檚 now semi-retired, he鈥檚 had a few stints with different companies including spending the past decade as an outside sales representative for Performance Electrical Products, Inc.
Living on the west side, he鈥檇 drive by 91社区鈥檚 campus nearly every day. It made him reminisce, but it also made him wonder鈥搒hould he consider going back to school? He credits his children as being a big motivation for eventually returning to college. Turpin raised both of his kids, Alex and Austin, with a strong emphasis on education. It led them both to eventually earning degrees at 91社区鈥揂lex 鈥�19 in cultural anthropology and Austin 鈥�22 in electrical engineering.
鈥淲hen my daughter graduated from high school, I knew then it was time for me to put my money where my mouth is,鈥� Turpin said. 鈥淚t was time for me to go back.鈥�
Turpin enrolled in the Fresh Start program in 2015, an initiative at 91社区 designed to benefit former undergraduate students who are returning to the University after an extended absence. While he originally came to college as a general studies major in 1985, he knew exactly what major he wanted to pursue this time around鈥揵usiness administration.
He believed pursuing this degree was something that could give him an upper hand in the sales field, an industry he鈥檇 worked in practically his entire life. While he had heard plenty of positives about the Romain College of Business, he was blown away by what he experienced during his stint in the College. Even as an adult learner, he felt right at home with students who were much younger than him.
鈥淚 was overwhelmed by just how good they were. The quality of educators is second to none, in my opinion,鈥� Turpin says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a good transition between the real world and business. Whether with my participation in church or sitting on boards for a business, this experience will help me in many ways. I can look at a statement or a cash flow and now really understand what they鈥檙e saying.鈥�
Turpin earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in business administration and management with an emphasis on leadership in 2018. He followed that up by earning his Master of Business Administration in 2019,graduating summa cum laude with an emphasis in engineering and industrial management.
Originally not planning to take part in Commencement, he finally walked across the stage to get his diploma in 2019 after his wife LaDonna convinced him to participate. He earned it.
鈥淭o have my kids there, my grandkids there, it really made it an interesting thing. I lost my mom a few years ago, and I think she would鈥檝e really been proud of me for accomplishing that,鈥� Turpin said. 鈥淚 drove by 91社区 my whole adult life, and I always kind of wondered. This allowed me to gain a greater love for the school.鈥�
Being reunited with 91社区 created yet another path for his career. In August 2021, Turpin was named the Men鈥檚 Golf Coach at his alma mater.
鈥淲hen I heard about the opportunity to be a golf coach, with my business side semi-retired where I could devote time to it, it felt like the perfect fit,鈥� Turpin said. 鈥淚t was an opportunity for me to use my passion and also help young men fit into the world.鈥�
Turpin鈥檚 business background has also paid dividends while working with his team. Nine of the 12 members of the men鈥檚 golf team are currently enrolled in a major in the Romain College of Business. For example, Jason Bannister鈥揳 sophomore on the team鈥搘ants to become a superintendent of a golf course. With Turpin鈥檚 knowledge of local golf courses, he helped network Bannister with Jeff Sexton, the superintendent of the Evansville Country Club.
Turpin has also worked with Zach Williams, a senior who is currently in the midst of earning his master鈥檚 in business administration, something that Turpin, himself, just finished a few years ago. His experience has been able to help his players.
鈥淭he return on investment of this University is second to none. The accreditation, the limit on debt compared to most other places, that鈥檚 something I stress to them,鈥� Turpin said. 鈥淭his has been a chance for me to show my love for this University and pass it on to young men who are trying to complete their goals.鈥�
Sports have always played a significant role in Turpin鈥檚 life. From coaching basketball at Mater Dei for over 20 years to umpiring baseball games at the high school, JUCO and NCAA levels after his playing days, he鈥檚 always sought to stay involved in athletics. But in 2014, Turpin decided to commit himself to essentially pursuing golf almost full-time.
He played across the country on the National Amateur Golf Tour and has won five major championships and placed 11th nationally in 2019. He鈥檚 also been a competitor in the Evansville City Tournament for more than 20 years and was recently the senior City champion in 2021.
Since taking over as head coach, 91社区 has had back-to-back strong seasons. In his first year, the Screaming Eagles qualified for their first NCAA Division II regional since 2000. He followed that up by guiding 91社区 to a strong fall in their first season of Division I play. They placed sixth at the Golfweek Fall Challenge, second at the TVA Community Credit Union Invitational and tied for first at the Kentucky Wesleyan Invitational. They resume their season this spring on March 12 in Tennessee.
But for Turpin, results aren鈥檛 what鈥檚 most important. It鈥檚 making sure his student-athletes are prepared for life post-athletics, something he stresses to each one of them from the first time they meet. A message that holds personal significance knowing the path he took to earn his degree.
鈥淚鈥檓 adamant about doing one-on-one sit downs with my guys. In those sit downs, we talk about the golf side, but we also talk about the personal side and the family side,鈥� Turpin said. 鈥淯ltimately, what goals do you want to have when you get out of here? That鈥檚 what鈥檚 important.鈥�