Gardner-Webb women’s basketball announced two staff promotions Monday in advance of the 2021-2022 season.
Garner Small has been promoted to Associate Head Coach and Chynna Turner will add the role of Recruiting Coordinator to her duties. Both coaches have been with the program since head coach Alex Simmons assembled her first staff in 2018.
“A non-negotiable in our program is Commitment,” said Simmons. “We work hard for each other and with each other every single day. Chynna and Garner chose to come to Gardner Webb with commitment, success and the elevation of our women’s basketball program as their number one priority.
“I look back on our last three years and we have been able to do some incredible things and meet our goals as a program. I am ecstatic that they chose Gardner-Webb and hope to continue this journey with them.”
Small will be in his fourth season on the bench in Boiling Springs. He joined the GWU family after serving as video coordinator at Ole Miss and has college experience in prior stops at Clarendon (Texas) College, UT-Martin and Olivet College.
Small finished his college basketball playing career at Olivet, averaging 15.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game as a senior.
“I am overjoyed to promote Garner to Associate Head Coach,” said Simmons. “He continues to invest in our program through his time, energy, and commitment. He is a family man of faith and I am blessed that he and his family are a part of our program.”
Turner is also in her fourth season at Gardner-Webb, serving as an assistant coach in each of the three previous seasons. She came on board after spending three seasons on staff at the University of Texas-Tyer, a strong Division III program that won 68 games during her time there.
As a player, Turner competed at Wichita State, where she finished her career with 974 points and 555 rebounds over four seasons.
“I’m very thankful that I am able to go through this journey with Chynna as our Recruiting Coordinator,” said Simmons “She has always exuded confidence and loyalty. She is a great role model for our student-athletes and our community. Her progressive attitude, humility, and positive mindset will continue to bolster our women’s basketball program.”
Gardner-Webb opens its 2021-2022 campaign with a three-game road swing, beginning on November 9 at Vanderbilt. GWU will also play at Georgia (Nov. 13) and at East Carolina (Nov. 15) before opening the home schedule on November 21 vs. Mercer.
