Jeremy Talbot -- Assistant Baseball Coach, Texas A&M University Aggies

(as of baseball season 2009) Jeremy Talbot joined the Texas A&M staff on July 6, 2005. He spent one year (2005) at Jacksonville State and five seasons (2000-04) at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. At Texas A&M Talbot coaches the catchers and assists in hitting and the recruiting efforts.
A native of Labadieville, La., Talbot spent 1999 as an assistant at Northeast Texas Community College in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, where he coached third base and assisted in recruiting.
Prior to joining the staff at NTCC, Talbot was a volunteer assistant at the University of Nebraska in 1998. Serving as the catching and hitting coach for head coach Dave Van Horn, Talbot helped the Huskers to a 42-18 finish, the championship of the Big 12 Tournament, and a spot in the NCAA Regionals.
During Talbot's year at Nebraska, the Huskers tied a school record with a .338 team batting average and finished third in the country in runs scored per game.
Talbot began his coaching career at Nicholls State under Jim Pizzalato, a former Miami and Team USA assistant. After one year at Nicholls, Talbot moved on to Nebraska.
An all-state and three-time all-district performer at Assumption High School, Talbot began his college playing career at Nicholls State University where he hit .310 as a freshman. He played one year at Mendocino Junior College before transferring to Arkansas where he started as a designated hitter and catcher, helping the Razorbacks to a Regional appearance.
Talbot's resume also includes an impressive stint in summer league baseball, working 1998 with the Anchorage Glacier Pilots (Alaska League) as both pitching and hitting coach.

Ronny Thompson -- Head Men's Basketball Coach, Ball State University Cardinals

(as of basketball season 2006-07) Ronny Thompson was named head coach at Ball State on April 4, 2006, after three seasons as an assistant coach (2003-06) at Arkansas. Thompson is the son of legendary Hall of Famer and former Georgetown head coach John Thompson. He is also the brother of current Georgetown head coach John Thompson III. Thompson coached for five seasons as an assistant at Georgetown. In addition, he also worked with another Hall of Famer, head coach Larry Brown, and general manager Billy King as an NBA scout for the Philadelphia 76ers from 1996-98. While with the 76ers, Thompson was an integral part in assisting Brown and King in preparing for games as well as assisting in preparing for the NBA Draft. Thompson, who played for his father from 1989-92, earned his bachelor's in sociology in 1992 and worked on Wall Street for Prudential Securities. After working on Wall Street, he decided to pursue coaching and began his second career as an assistant to Jerry Green at the University of Oregon. From 1994-96, he was an assistant at Loyola before going to the NBA. Thompson joined his father's staff after the 1998 NBA season and remained with the Hoyas through 2003. Georgetown's 2001 squad reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The 2003 team reached the finals of the NIT while the 2000 team advanced to the second round of the NIT.
As a player at Georgetown, Thompson was a member of teams that went a combined 94-35, reached the Elite Eight once and the Sweet 16 twice.

Bill Thornton -- Head Track & Field / Cross Country Coach, St. Olaf College Oles

(as of track & field season 2007-08) Bill Thornton begins his 35th year as head coach of track & field at St. Olaf. From 1970 through 1984 and 1997- the present time he has served or is serving as Coach of Cross Country. During his tenure he has coached 96 Midwest Conference and Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Champions, and 29 NCAA Division III, and one NCAA College Division All Americans, including 5 National Champions. Of the Conference Champions 13 are MIAC Record Holders, 8 Indoors and 5 Outdoors, in the events currently contested. One of the National Champions is the current NCAA In door record holder.
A strong believer in Coaching Education, he holds USAT&F Level I and II Coaching Certifications as well as Bronze and Silver Level Certification in the Pole vault . His Level II Certifications are in the event areas of Jumps and Throws.
Coach Thornton is a member of the United States Track Coaches Association and the NCAA Division III Track Coaches Association where he has served as Secretary since 1984. Since 1985 he has been involved in the United States Olympic Festivals, sponsored by the United States Olympic Committee, serving as a Travel Coordinator, and most recently as an Assistant Commissioner for Men's Athletics (Track & Field). A 1996 Sabbatical Leave enabled him the opportunity to serve as Co-manger of Equipment and Co-supervisor of Field of Play for the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Ranked as an Associate Professor of Physical Education his teaching expertise includes a variety of Activity Classes as well as Exercise Physiology, and Lifeguard Training. He has carried his strong beliefs in Teaching and Coaching Education and served as a Clinician at numerous clinics around the country.
A 1963 graduate of the University of Kansas with a Physical Education major and Biological Science minor. He received a Masters Degree from the University of Arkansas in 1964. During the 1963-64 academic year and into the summer of 1964 he served
as a Graduate Assistant Coach of Cross Country and Track & Field at Arkansas under Abe Bidwell.

Don Trull -- Football

An All American QB in 1963, Don played for Baylor University from 1961-63. He was drafted as a "future" in 1962 by the Baltimore Colts (NFL) and Houston Oilers (AFL) and signed with Houston in December 1962. Don went on to play quarterback for the Houston Oilers from 1964-69 before bouncing around. In a four year period he was traded in the sixth week of the 1967 season to the Boston Patriots and finished out 1967 and training camp 1968 with them. Released in Sept of 1968 and picked up by the Houston Oilers for 1968 and 1969 seasons. NFL Stats. Released by Houston after the 1969 season and played for Edmonton in the Canadian league for 1970 & 1971. He also served as the color commentator for Baylor University and the Houston Oilers.  Don is currently (2003) on the National Board of the NFL Alumni Association as well as the Houston chapter's past president.
Head freshman Coach at the University of Arkansas in 1972 and varsity QB coach in 1973 and 1974.

Ken Turner -- Baseball / Football / Athletic Director

Four-year letterman in baseball and football at Henderson State. Director of Athletics at Henderson State from 1989-2000 and head football coach from 1990-93; Inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2001; played major role in HSU's move from NAIA to NCAA; All-AIC in baseball in 1955, coached for 36 years at HSU, The University of Arkansas and three state high schools; member of the Men's Council at HSU in 1954. Inducted into the Henderson State Hall of Honor in 2001.
Turner was special teams and offensive line coach for 15 years under Broyles, Lou Holtz and Ken Hatfield at Arkansas and coached All-American kickers Steve Little, Bruce Lahay and Greg Horne and eventual longtime NFL kicker Steve Cox.

Matt Turner -- Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Eastern Illinois University Panthers

(as of 2005-06 school year) Matt Turner was named strength and conditioning coach at Eastern Illinois University in August of 2005.
Turner, who was at Arkansas since January 2004, worked primarily with football, track and tennis, and assisted with volleyball, men's and women's basketball and baseball.
Prior to Arkansas he served two years as strength and conditioning coach along with assistant football coach at Arkansas-Monticello.
Turner was an assistant football coach at Washington University (Mo.) during the 1999 season, and then was a graduate assistant coach at Arkansas Tech where he's completing work on a master's degree.

Page last updated: 11/12/09