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In addition to his coaching duties at Â鶹ÊÓƵ University, Turner has served on the USA Basketball Selection Committee. This committee selects players to represent the United States in the World Games, Pan-Am Games, and other International events. Turner also takes his knowledge of basketball to the national level by serving on the NAIA All-American Committee and the NAIA Championship Tournament Committee that organizes the men’s national basketball tournament in Kansas City, Missouri. He also has served as the NAIA National Rater for the TranSouth Conference.

Under the guidance of Turner, summer basketball camps at Â鶹ÊÓƵ University have continued to grow. Through Turner’s hard work and dedication, Â鶹ÊÓƵ averages over 1,500 boys and girls during the camps.

Turner’s goal for the men’s basketball program is more than concentrating on the score of a game. His desire is to not only see that his players be a part of the best teams that Â鶹ÊÓƵ has ever had, but for those individuals to be the best people Â鶹ÊÓƵ has ever had.

He and wife, Sherrie, have two daughters, Andrea and Alison, both students at Â鶹ÊÓƵ.

David Niven, a 1996 graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University, begins his 11th season with the Bulldogs after spending the 1996-97 season as an assistant coach at Oklahoma Baptist. In his first two seasons at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Niven served as a volunteer assistant coach, and then became full-time in 1999. In 2003, Niven earned the position of associate head coach for the Â鶹ÊÓƵ men's basketball program.

During his time at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Niven has assumed the responsibility of coordinating the recruiting efforts for the Bulldogs. He has recruited and signed numerous All-Americans, as well as, the 2002 NAIA Player of the Year, but the statistic he is most proud of is the 27 players that have graduated during his time as their academic advisor.

Niven spent his playing career at OBU and finished with a four-year career record 121-24. In those four years, he played on teams that were ranked No. 1 in the NAIA, advanced to the NAIA National Championship game, and two Final Fours. He also became the first player to help lead the Bison to four consecutive national tournaments. While at OBU in 1997, as assistant coach for the Bison, Niven received his Master of Education degree from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. He received valuable coaching experience as the Bison went 36-4 and made it to the 1997 NAIA National Championship Finals.

Niven is married to the former Mandy Beth Wells of Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Niven and his wife are the proud parents of their first child, Jacob, born June 8, 2006. The Niven's are also expecting their second child.

Volunteer Assistant
Chima Abakwue

Chima Abakwue is in his third season with the Â鶹ÊÓƵ coaching staff. He graduated in August of 2007 with a Master's of Arts and Education degree and teaching licenses from Â鶹ÊÓƵ University. Abakwue, of Cedar Hill, Texas, was a four-year starter for the Bulldogs from 2001-04.

During the season between his graduation and returning to Â鶹ÊÓƵ as a graduate assistant, Abakwue spent time with the Harlem Ambassadors and also with the World Basketball Association’s Cleveland Magic.

While at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Abakwue set numerous three-point records. He set the record for three pointers made in a season (134), three-pointers made in a game (10), and three pointers made in a career (401). Over his four years at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Abakwue scored 1,834 points and shot an amazing .405 (401-991) from behind the arc. He led the TranSouth Conference in three pointers made in three of the four seasons he play for Â鶹ÊÓƵ.

Abakwue earned several honors as well. He was named to the TranSouth All-Conference team in 2002 and 2004, and the TranSouth All-Freshman team in 2001. As a senior, Abakwue was named an NAIA All-American in 2004.