“Both basketball programs had tremendous seasons,” says Union’s Athletic Director David Blackstock. “This season proves that nice guys really can finish first.”

And finishing first is just what they did. From the number of wins and blocked shots to conference championships, the Bulldogs experienced a record-breaking season.

It is an impressive accomplishment for a man in his first head coaching job. Turner spent his early career as an assistant coach at his alma mater Lipscomb University for nine seasons before coming to Union in 1994.

The Bible-major preferred coaching to preaching because of the amount of time he could spend with students. “Other than my father, the people with the biggest influences in my life have been coaches,” explains Turner. He wants to have that same influence on his players, impacting their lives both on and off the court.

“I live by the creed of ‘Whisper criticism, Yell praise,’” explains the coach. “If I could choose between making a difference in a hundred lives or winning a hundred championships, I’d choose the hundred lives. The thing you remember most when looking back is the players, not the rings.”

“Coach Turner is an intelligent, caring man who loves people and has a gift for helping them through different situations,” says Blackstock. “Whether it is a family situation, academic problem or athletic challenge, he invests himself in the lives of his players and students.”

With a 2002 TranSouth Conference Championship and a Sweet 16 appearance in the NAIA National Championship, he has experienced the same success on the court. Keeping that success in perspective is a lesson Turner always tries to conveys to his players.

“More than being basketball players, I talk about things that are most important. Education is more than just book learning, it is preparing for life,” says Turner. Those life lessons include everything from saying “please” and “thank you” to goal setting and having a personal relationship with friends, family and the Lord. "At no time do I hold myself as a shining example. I admit to them that I have struggles just like they do. None of us are perfect but we are all striving to be better."

More for the Record
Coach Turner is not alone at the top the record books. Union senior forward, Robert Joseph, broke the record for all-time college basketball blocks in a season during a win over Lambuth. Joseph blocked eight shots to go along with his 20 points and 14 rebounds. His record-breaking 215 blocks for the season earned him a spot in ESPN’s SportCenter and in Sports Illustrated when he surpassed San Antonio Spur David Robinson.

“Robert Joseph has been a tremendous asset for Union,” says Blackstock. “To have broken the record for not only the NAIA but the NCAA is a great accomplishment.”

Joseph, from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, tied the school record for blocks in the first game of the season then broke the record the next night with 12 blocks. Added to that, Joseph has more than tripled the old Union record of 70 blocks in a season.

Soaring through the air, terrifying opponents’ offense is not the only thing the 6’7" senior did for the nationally ranked Bulldogs. Joseph was also the leading scorer in the TranSouth Conference and was second in rebounding being named the 2002 NAIA Co-Player of the Year, NAIA First Team All- American and to the national tournament All- Tournament team in Kansas City. These honors were added to his TranSouth Conference Player of the Year and first team All-Conference selection.

The Final Four and More
While the Bulldogs were dominating men’s basketball, Coach Mark Campbell’s Lady Bulldogs stormed through a 35-4 season of their own on the way to their seventh consecutive TranSouth Conference title and a NAIA Final Four appearance.

This was Campbell’s third year as the Lady Bulldogs head coach, but he has been a contributing factor in Union’s success for several years. Campbell helped build the men’s basketball program as an assistant coach under Turner from 1994 to 1999.

Campbell’s relationship with Turner goes beyond being colleagues. It was during Campbell’s own stellar career at Lipscomb University that Ralph Turner impacted his life as an assistant coach with the Bisons.

Realizing that his former coaches have greatly influenced his own path in life, Campbell believes that all coaches are in positions where they have the opportunity to influence young people.

“Coach Campbell is very focused,” explains Blackstock. “He wants to be more than a coach to his players by showing them that the manner in which they conduct themselves is as important as winning a game.”

With one look at the line-up for the Lady Bulldogs, it is no surprise that they are winning games.

Sophomore Jessica Henson of Bradford, Tenn., has made her impact known at Union in just two seasons winning the TranSouth Player of the Year honor twice, first team All- Conference twice, and first team All-American twice. She ranks in the top ten in the conference in scoring, three-point percentage and assists. However, Henson is just one of the stars for the Lady Bulldogs. Mary Catherine Way and Christal Merriweather were selected as NAIA second team All-American performers while Mary Beth Haltom, along with Way, were named NAIA Academic All-Americans.

The Tradition Continues
Over the past 25 years, both the men and women’s basketball programs have become dominating forces in the conference and on the national stage.

“One big reason for our success is the people – the coaches and players – who have been a part of Union’s program,” says Blackstock. “Coach Turner and Coach Campbell are continuing the legacy.”

What is the Union legacy? Winning championships and athletic talent are just small pieces of the picture. From the basketball courts and classrooms to future careers, Union’s student athletes reflect the ability to carry a Christian worldview even into the competitive world of athletics.