CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – University of Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced today that Mike Turk, the director of the Fighting Illini men's and women's track and field and cross country programs, will not return for the 2022-23 seasons. Turk had been a member of the UI coaching staff since 2006 and, for the last 11 years, had been head coach and, most recently, program director.

"I want to thank Coach Turk for his longtime service to the University of Illinois," said Whitman. "Regrettably, following our Big Ten championship in 2015, competitive success in our men's and women's programs has been fleeting. With the programs now combined under a single coaching structure and with the recent opening of Demirjian Park, the time is right to usher in a new era for our proud running and field event programs. We wish Coach Turk all the best in his future endeavors."

Turk joined the Illinois staff in 2006 as an assistant coach for jumps and throws and served as interim head coach for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. He was named the permanent head coach in 2012, assumed leadership of both the men's and women's programs following their consolidation in 2017 and was promoted to Director of Track and Field and Cross Country in January, 2020.

During the early years of his tenure as head coach of the men's program, Coach Turk led the Illini to four Big Ten runner-up finishes and the 2015 Outdoor Big Ten Championship. Since 2015, when the men finished second at the Big Ten Indoor Championships and won the Outdoor title, the men's team has finished 10^th or lower in eight of 13 Big Ten Indoor and Outdoor Championships and has finished better than eighth place only one time. On the women's side, in nine Big Ten Indoor and Outdoor Championships since Coach Turk assumed leadership of the program, the team has only two finishes higher than 11^th place, when they finished 10^th and 9^th, respectively, at this year's Indoor and Outdoor Championships. 

A national search will begin immediately to identify Coach Turk's successor. All inquiries should be directed to Josh Whitman's office at IlliniAD@illinois.edu.