Turner West, who has experience coaching in the NFL, serves as the special teams coordinator for the Georgia Southern football program under head coach Clay Helton. He came to Statesboro after serving as the special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator at The Citadel for the previous three seasons.
West was named a Broyles Award semifinalist, which goes to the top assistant coach in the FBS, in 2024 after putting stellar units on the field. Punter Alex Smith finished 17th in the FBS in net punting and earned second-team all-conference honors while Gavin Stewart was one of the most accurate kickers in the country, making 83 percent of his kicks.Â
In 2023, Michael Lantz set a school record with 23 made field goals and led the Sun Belt with 114 points scored. It was the second time in as many years a Turner West-coached player led the league in scoring. Lantz was also perfect on 45 PATs, helping earn his All-Sun Belt first-team honors by Pro Football Focus. True freshman DeAndre Buchannon tied the school record with a 100-yard kickoff return against App State to help bolster his resume. Buchannon earned first-team Freshman All-America honors as a kick returner from College Football Network.Â
In 2022, Alex Raynor earned all-conference honors after leading the Sun Belt in scoring. The kicker went 18 of 20 on field goals and scored 103 points for the Eagles and went on to be a Lou Groza Award finalist in 2024. Anthony Beck II averaged over 43 yards per punt and finished his Georgia Southern career with the highest punting average and school history (43.25), along with the most 50-yard punts in a career (38). Special teams ace NaJee Thompson was signed by the Minnesota Vikings and was a standout on punt coverage after making the 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent in 2023.
In 2021, All-American punter Matt Campbell was selected first-team All-SoCon for the fourth time, while long snapper Steele Judy was named to the second team. Campbell averaged 44.2 yards on 45 punts as a senior with a long of 84 yards with 13 punts downed inside the 20-yard line and 12 punts going 50 yards or longer. Judy snapped on all punts and field goals without a bad snap. He was also credited with a tackle.
In his first year with the Bulldogs, West mentored one of the most experienced and consistent special teams units in the country. The Bulldogs returned all key components of their unit, including All-American long snapper Patrick Keefe and Freshman All-American Matt Campbell.
The group proved to be one of the best in the FCS as they ranked sixth in net punting at 40.41 yards per punt. They also ranked 13th in punt return average at 4.0 yards per return. Individually, Campbell ranked eighth in punting at 44.1 yards per punt. He now owns two of the top three single-season punt averages in school history.
Kicker Jacob Godek converted all 43 of his extra points in 2019, while also hitting on eight field goals. He ended his career as the school’s all-time leader with 113 extra points, including ending his career by making 105 straight.
The Bulldog punt block unit blocked a pair of punts on the season, both coming against Elon. Sean-Thomas Faulkner blocked both punts in the game to earn Southern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors. His most important kick came in overtime when he hit from 37-yards out to give the Bulldogs a 27-24 overtime victory over Georgia Tech. Â
West joined the Bulldogs after spending the previous season as the linebackers coach at Austin Peay. Prior to his time with the Governors, West spent four seasons as a defensive assistant with the Dallas Cowboys.Â
While with the Cowboys, West worked with passing game coordinator/linebackers coach Matt Eberflus, where he assisted with the development of the linebackers.Â
His star pupil during his time in Dallas was Sean Lee, one of the top linebackers in the NFL. In 2016, Lee recorded career highs with 174 tackles and 12 tackles for loss. He was named All-Pro and earned his second consecutive Pro Bowl nod.
West went to the NFL after spending two years as a graduate assistant working with the quarterbacks and wide receivers at Middle Tennessee.
He began his coaching career as an intern at UAB in 2011 before going on to spend a semester as a volunteer assistant at Samford.West played wide receiver at Memphis for his father, head coach Tommy West. West received his degree in interdisciplinary studies from UM in 2011. He and his wife, Sarah, were married in 2024 and live in Statesboro.
THE WEST FILE
Personal
Hometown: Memphis,Tenn.
Born: Dec. 19, 1987 in Greenville, S.C.
College: Memphis (2011)
Family: wife, Sarah
Playing Experience
Memphis (2006-09)
Coaching Experience
2022-: Georgia Southern (special teams coordinator)
2019-21: The Citadel (special teams coordinator/recruiting coordinator)
2018: Austin Peay (linebackers)
2014-17: Dallas Cowboys (assistant linebackers)
2012-13: Middle Tennessee (G.A.)
2012:Â Samford (volunteer assistant)
2011: UAB (intern)
College Bowl/NFL Postseason Experience
Coach
2024: New Orleans (GS vs. Sam Houston)
2023: Myrtle Beach (GS vs. Ohio)
2022: Camellia (GS vs. Buffalo)
2016: NFL Playoffs (Dallas Cowboys)
2014: NFL Playoffs (Dallas Cowboys)
2013: Armed Forces (Middle Tennessee vs. Navy)
Player
2008: St. Petersburg (Memphis vs. USF)
2007: New Orleans (Memphis vs. FAU)
Prominent Pupils
Sean Lee (LB): All-Pro linebacker, Dallas Cowboys
Jaylon Smith : Pro Bowl linebacker, Dallas Cowboys
Rolando McClain: 1st round draft pick, Dallas Cowboys
Anthony Hitchens: 4th round draft pick, Dallas Cowboys
Matt Campbell: 4-time FCS All-American (P), The Citadel
NaJee Thompson: Minnesota Vikings special teamer
Alex Raynor: 2024 Lou Groza Award finalist
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