UTRGV assistant coach inducted into the Hall of Fame

The newly inducted Barton Community College Sports Hall of Famer Ipek Turkyilmaz practices shooting the ball with junior guard Trelynn Tyler (from left), freshman guard Tiffany McGarity, junior guard Valeria Tapia and graduate forward Desirea Buerge. ALDO NAVA/THE RIDER PHOTOS

UTRGV Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach Ipek Turkyilmaz was inducted Feb. 19 into the 2020 Barton Sports Hall of Fame.

Originally from Izmir, Turkey, Turkyilmaz faced many challenges when coming to the Americas, including culture and language barriers.

She came to the United States without knowing English, but the people around her and her passion for basketball broke that barrier at Barton Community College.

“It’s a big honor,” Turkyilmaz said. “When I came to America, I couldn’t speak any English. … All the people helped me, from my teachers, my coaches, the friends, the teammates, from cafeteria people to [the] bookstore [people], everybody helped me so much.”

UTRGV Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach Ipek Turkyilmaz (right) looks on as redshirt junior guard Amara Graham focuses on the ball while practicing a play.

One of the people who helped her develop the most was UTRGV Women’s Basketball Head Coach Lane Lord, who coached Turkyilmaz back in 2006-07 during her first two seasons at BCC.

“[Lord is] a hard [working man] and always being positive,” she said. “He knows how to take [the] best out of you to shine. Basically, he [makes] you feel special. You feel his trust … I learned a lot from him [about] being positive.”

During her freshman year at BCC, she earned her nickname “3-pek,” for her three-point shooting with an overall record of 41.9.

Turkyilmaz broke program records, such as the most three-point field goals made, with 90 in a season and 8 in a game, along with an average of 40.4% in three-point shooting in 2007.

Breaking records left and right, Turkyilmaz led her team to a regional championship and a fourth-place finish at nationals as a sophomore in 2008, according to goutrgv.com.

She has also represented her country by being part of the Turkish Women’s Basketball League.

Lord is proud of his former athlete, who is now his assistant coach.

“We’re very, very proud of Ipek,” he said. “I was her coach when she came to the United States at Barton Community College and we brought her a little over 13 years ago, and to see her grow into, not only a great basketball player, but a great young woman.”

Lord said she leads by example.

“But in basketball, it always kind of translates, you know, as the ball is going into the hoop and she certainly did that,” he said. “She broke the all-time record for most three-pointers made and career three-point shooting percentage, but was also just a great all around offensive player that made her teammates better. She’s one of the best players I’ve ever coached.”

Lord was able to present Turkyilmaz at the Hall of Fame, which became a highlight in his coaching career.

“I’m not in any Hall of Fame and I don’t know many people that are, but for her to get that recognition … it was a special time for all of us to be there,” he said.

Turkyilmaz’s contribution to the team is mainly player development.

“She works individually and in groups to define the player skills, ball handling, shooting, passing all the things that she was great at,” Lord said. “She’s a great teacher of the game and the fundamentals of the game, and then, of course, she helps us in scouting reports and breaking down the other teams that we play. But really, her greatest contribution as an assistant coach is her constant positive energy that she brings to the team every day and the way she developed the players.”

The team also enjoy working with “Coach T,” and senior forward Megan Johnson feels proud that Turkyilmaz’s hard work and dedication has finally paid off by getting her into the BCC Sports Hall of Fame.

“She’s just such a kind person,” Johnson said. “Whether I have a problem on the court or off the court, I feel like she’s someone that’s safe to go to and talk to and she’s always go, open arms and open heart to help anybody. She’s just that kind of person.”

Turkyilmaz’s induction into the Hall of Fame was a mark in her career; however, Head Coach Lord believes that she can also leave a mark at UTRGV by taking the women’s basketball program to the highest level.