Turbin to Take Over at Helm of Track and Field Programs

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Nov. 16, 2007) – Occidental Director of Athletics Jaime Hoffman announced today that Derek Turbin has been named Interim Track and Field Head Coach for the 2008 season.

Turbin has proven himself a leader in the Department of Athletics as the assistant cross country coach during the fall of 2007.

He is no stranger to Tiger Athletics as a 2006 graduate of Oxy, having been a dual-sport athlete during his undergraduate years at the college.

Twice Turbin was a member of Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship football teams, earning All-SCIAC recognition three years. He capped off his senior season with a First Team selection before playing in the Hula Bowl.

During his track career, while competing in the Sprints and Jumps, he also earned All-SCIAC honors three times. In 2005 he triple jumped 47'5 and 3/4s which qualified him for Nationals and placed him 10th on Oxy's all-time list. Last year Turbin served as an assistant coach for the track and field programs.

Hoffman said of Turbin’s appointment, “He has been a very active, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic member of the Oxy Athletic Department since signing on full time this year. Derek has done a wonderful job with Head Cross Country Coach Rob Bartlett during the past three months and I believe he is qualified to lead the Oxy track and field programs this coming spring.”