WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army head lacrosse coach Joe Alberici has added former Duke star Justin Turri as an assistant coach on the Black Knights’ coaching staff Tuesday morning. Turri helped Duke win a national title in 2010 and is currently in his third season playing in the Major League Lacrosse ranks.
Turri joins assistant coach Kyle Georgalas, who enters his fourth season along the banks of the Hudson. Long-time assistant coach Mac Diange stepped down after 25 years at West Point, taking over as head coach at the USMA Prep School in late May.
“I am ecstatic to welcome Justin Turri to the Army lacrosse family,” Alberici said. “Not only is Justin an eager, talented young coach, he is a proven winner. He comes from a great lacrosse pedigree and truly understands the value of being successful on the field and in the classroom. We are all extremely lucky to have Justin on board as we look to take Army lacrosse to new heights.”
Turri makes his way to West Point after having spent the 2014 season as a volunteer coach at Providence College. During his one season with the Friars, some of Turri’s many responsibilities included assisting the offense and extra-man units, administering the substitution box on game day and film and statistical analysis.
A four-year starting midfielder at Duke, Turri was a two-time United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) All-American, finished his career ranked 28th on Duke’s career points list with 122 (70 goals, 52 assists). The two-year team captain graduated ranked sixth on Duke’s NCAA Tournament career points list (29), eighth in career goals (16) and fourth in career assists (12). The Blue Devils earned an NCAA Tournament berth every season with Turri on the field.
Turri, who redshirted his freshman year due to a foot injury, helped Duke capture the Atlantic Coast Conference title in 2009 and 2012. Aside from winning the 2010 NCAA title, the Blue Devils made the NCAA semifinals in all four of Turri’s seasons.
Turri spent one season each with the MLL’s Charlotte Hounds and Denver Outlaws and is currently with the Rochester Rattlers. At his stops in Charlotte and Denver, he played alongside former Army standout Jeremy Boltus ’11. The pair helped the Outlaws to a 14-0 regular-season record in 2013, marking the best finish in MLL history. Turri’s versatility has shined as he has filled the role of attackman, offensive middie and defensive middie at different times throughout his three years on the professional level.
“Words can’t describe how excited I am to work on Coach Alberici’s staff and with the young men of the United States Military Academy,” Turri said. “Coach has cultivated something special in his nine seasons at the Academy, and I hope to add to what he has built through my passion for this game. I already have a deep respect for West Point, knowing that it is an extremely special place that helps mold our nation’s future leaders. I’m very lucky and thankful to now be a small part of that.”
An Academic All-ACC honoree, Turri earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Duke’s Trinity College of Arts and Sciences in 2011. He completed a Master of Management Studies degree from the University’s acclaimed Fuqua School of Business the following year and spent two years as a Sports Finance Analyst.
A native of West Islip, N.Y., Turri helped West Islip H.S. win a pair of New York State Class A Championships in 2006 and 2007.
