Crystal Turner - Assistant Coach - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Crystal Turner

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
Phone:
(515) 450-3800

Crystal Turner, a graduate of Ohio University and accomplished player and coach, enters her fourth year on Iowa State head coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler’s staff.

Turner works primarily with the infielders and serves as the recruiting coordinator.

Last season, ISU tied for the Big 12 lead with 22 double plays turned.

Her work as recruiting coordinator has paid off as ISU has had at least four newcomers in the starting lineup in each of the last two seasons.

The 2007 rookie class is on pace to become one of the most productive in school history.

In 2007, Alex Johnson was a second-team all-Big 12 selection during her freshman campaign after leading ISU with a .320 batting average and racking up 62 hits. She was just the second player in school-history to top 60 hits in a season.

Johnson’s fellow 2007 rookie Courtney Wray became the third player in ISU history to top 60 hits in a single-season when she posted 61 in 2008 as a sophomore.

Having previously coached against Turner, it came as no surprise that Gemeinhardt-Cesler offered Turner a position on her first staff.

Turner came to Iowa State after three seasons as an assistant coach at Missouri Southern. While coaching the Lions, Turner was in charge of many of the everyday functions of the softball program, including organizing practice plans and serving as the recruting coordinator.

Turner’s players accomplished numerous feats both on the field and in the classroom. She coached seven all-MIAA performers, five commissioner honor roll student-athletes and a presidential scholar while assisting on the Lions’ coaching staff.

Turner served as a softball clinician in Kansas City, Mo., in the summer of 2000, working with a variety of age groups, giving instructions on the basic fundamentals of softball.

Turner, the Bobcats’ starting shortstop, was selected as Defensive Player of the Year during her senior season at Ohio. The Raytown, Mo., native also served as a Senior Board Member in 2003 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in adventure recreation.

Turner was a four-year member of the Raytown High School softball team, earning all-state honors at shortstop as a junior and senior. She was also selected as the team’s Top Offensive Player in her junior and senior campaigns.

Turner played summer ball for the HiBoy Pride (1994-96) and Desoto Belles (1996-99).