Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Chandler, Arizona is excited to announce Jimmy Turk, its new baseball coach who is a seasoned Division I coach with former Arizona ties — and a sweet tooth.
Turk is bringing a new meaning to the old phrase “the early bird gets the worm.” For the Coyotes, those who reach first base or beyond in 2024-25 will earn a gummy worm. He created the incentive while coaching at Oral Roberts University.
The gesture caught national spotlight while coaching the Golden Eagles as every player that recorded a base hit was rewarded with a sweet treat.
“Haribo makes them. They’re called Twin Snakes,” he said.
Turk, an Owasso, Okla., native, spent four seasons with ORU, a Division I school, as an assistant baseball coach, first base coach and aiding in recruiting efforts. He and the gummy candy propelled ORU to 52-14 record with its first Men’s College World Series appearance in 45 years. The Golden Eagles went 23-1 in conference play, including a 21-game win streak, and chewed their way to 721 hits with the team batting an average of .300.
Now Turk is bringing his brand and secret ingredient to Chandler.
As the new CGCC Baseball Coach, Turk will work to lead the Coyotes in their quest for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) World Series. The Coyotes are coming off a strong year, having played in the Region 1 Championship and boasting the ACCAC Player of the Year (Easton Bryant).
The Coyotes were 36-23 overall with a .315 team batting average in 2023-24. The program ranked first in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference in total runs (490), hits (612), runs batted in (426), extra base hits (188) and total bases (919). Turks will be inheriting a potent offense.
He is no stranger to the desert, either, as he spent five years as an assistant coach for South Mountain Community College. South Mountain was nationally ranked at one point during his tenure, including having coached 50 players that moved onto Duvison I programs and three MLB picks.
CGCC is excited to welcome him along with his wife Krista and son Kingston.
