The Hive Welcomes New Assistant AD and Head Wrestling Coach, Harry Turner

By Al Craft
September 2023

Imagine coming to your car and finding a note left by a stranger who graduated from the same high school as you, but decades before. That happened to Noah Rega, a senior sporting his Gray Bee pride with a magnet on his car. An interaction that doesn't seem out of place for The Hive – "This alum was so excited to see another Benedict's kid that he had to stop and leave a note on his car. Which, in any other context, is lunatic behavior," laughs new Assistant Athletic Director and Head Wrestling Coach Harry Turner. That unusual and unwavering passion and enthusiasm for fellow St. Benedict’s students, regardless of graduating year, was part of what attracted Turner to come on board. 

...in any other context, is lunatic behavior. 

"It's very exciting to be part of a place that has been around and had success for as long as St. Benedict's has," shares Turner. The draw to St. Benedict's for Turner was the sense of community that is part of everyday life at The Hive. Turner is a seasoned wrestling coach with nearly a decade of experience and whose own athletic journey includes being a four-year starter and team captain at Lock Haven University. Having been a student-athlete, Turner emphasizes the impact athletics has on young people: "You'll find out a lot about yourself in that first practice. The first time you lose. The first time you win. Every time, it will reveal something in your character," stresses Turner. Something Turner thinks will be less of an obstacle for the Gray Bees compared to other, more traditional schools. "This place is basically a leadership academy, and sports is a great avenue to become a leader," he asserts. 

Turner points to his own coach, Scott Moore, at Lock Haven and coach Scott “Goodie” Goodale, who he worked under at Rutgers, as his two biggest influences both athletically and professionally. Turner lights up as he recounts coach Goodale’s journey at Rutgers in 2007. "There were only 13 people in the stands for his matches," says Turner. Coach Goodie took it upon himself to revitalize the wrestling program and by the time Turner started coaching for him in 2018, Rutgers was selling out the Rutgers Athletic Center. "He had the blueprint for that turnaround. How to get buy-in from the athletes. How to get people to care about college wrestling in New Jersey," explains Turner. Coach Turner applied that same blueprint when he started his own Division III program at New Jersey City University, where he did everything from recruiting the players to ordering the mats and building the wrestling room. The newly launched team excelled under his leadership with four dual-meet wins in its inaugural season. 

Turner has built his coaching career on the pillars of tenacity and an emphasis on teamwork, two attributes he believes every student can learn and benefit from, regardless of if collegiate or professional athletics are the aim. "At the end of the day, even if you get nothing athletically, you'll make some of the best friends you will ever have in your life. The kind of friendship that comes from that shared struggle in athletics." Turner emphasizes all of the lifelong friendships he has maintained because of sports. "You go through something very difficult together. It's hard to find other people who will understand the sacrifices you made to be good at a sport. It reveals your character, and you will see your teammates' character." 

At the end of the day, even if you get nothing athletically, you'll make some of the best friends you will ever have in your life. The kind of friendship that comes from that shared struggle in athletics.

He encourages students to get involved in athletics early, not specifically to increase their talent at a young age, but to figure out what they truly enjoy. Turner champions passion and determination over all else, explaining that you don't have to be able to afford travel teams or special camps to dedicate yourself to athletic success. "St. Benedict's is about providing first-class athletic opportunities to students regardless of income," explains Turner. He cautions parents who might push their children towards one sport or another, reminding that "no one has ever begrudgingly become a high-level anything." Turner urges parents to let their children try various sports early on so that when they reach high school, they are ready to hit the ground running with their team. "Don't underestimate rec teams."

Turner also makes sure to address misconceptions in high school sports and myths held by students and parents that can hold their children back if being a college athlete is a goal they're working towards. "There are millions of kids putting up similar scores, performances and times. You have to do something to make yourself stand out," emphasizes Turner, who stresses that understanding the need to reach out to colleges early will help students have a leg up. "By July 1 of your junior year, many Division I schools are done recruiting for your class," states Turner. Students who aspire to become college athletes should do their research about the programs they are considering, and utilize their networks and reach out to colleges early. "If you wait too long, you could be as good as it gets, but the school already has who they have," says Turner. Reaching out to coaches and the leaders within the athletic department and making your goals known is a great first step for student athletes aspiring to continue their career at the collegiate level. 

When it comes to giving students a leg up, Turner has hit the ground running at The Hive. He is already working with the Office of College Placement and Career Development, helping students navigate the college recruitment and admissions process. He has already begun helping students with recruitment emails and coaching them to identify what they want from their collegiate athletic experience. He has built on his experience as a student-athlete and coach to help usher Benedict’s students into the next chapter of their athletic careers. "Understand that you are part of something bigger than yourself and that it is going to take self-sacrifice to get… …where [you] want to go," states Turner. A statement that mirrors one of the School’s mottos: "give up what you want for what we need." 

Understand that you are part of something bigger than yourself and that it is going to take self-sacrifice to get… …where [you] want to go

Being an athletic powerhouse has long been part of St. Benedict's identity. According to Turner, that success is traced back to the culture of the community developed at The Hive. "You have a lot of people policing the culture and holding each other accountable,” emphasizes Turner. “Those things usually take a decade to instill." But at St. Benedict's, the culture of resilience, community and teamwork is impressed upon students from the first day they show up on the grounds. These values build resilient students and formidable athletes; young people who are able to achieve any goal they set for themselves. 

Students determined to succeed paired with experienced and professional mentors like Turner who can help navigate the path to athletic achievement are part of the magical lunacy that make The Hive such a special place. Settling into his new role, Turner is excited to work with student-athletes as they continue their time in Gray Bee sports, and to introduce new students to the joy of athletics.