The moment was not about her—at least, that is how Rechelle Turner saw it. But as the final buzzer sounded at Jan. 12’s home game against the UIC Flames, the golden opportunity win became official.

The Murray State women’s basketball team erupted, rushing toward their coach, engulfing her in a moment of unfiltered joy for their coach’s 121st win, becoming the winningest coach in program history. The crowd inside the CFSB Center roared, not just for the victory, but for the woman who had transformed the program into a force to be reckoned with.

Turner, in typical fashion, deflected the attention.

“Breaking the record was not something I spent a lot of time thinking about,” she said. “I’ve never rebounded one shot. I’ve never made a basket. Never got a defensive stop. Those wins are an accumulation of all the players and all the teams that I have coached (over) the last seven and a half years. And so all the credit goes to them.”

Still, for her players, this was more than a milestone that speaks volumes of a coach who had given everything to make them better athletes, better teammates and better people.

Turner’s path to this moment was not straightforward, however. Before stepping into the collegiate coaching ranks, she spent 21 years building a powerhouse at Murray High School. She had just won a state championship and had a roster she believed could do it again. Leaving was not an easy choice.

“I spent a lot of time building that program, and I knew we had a team that could go back and win another title,” Turner said. “But I also saw the opportunity at Murray State as a blessing.”

Taking over a collegiate programhowever, proved to be an entirely different challenge. Her first season at Murray State was unsteady—she did not select the roster, and not knowing how everything worked made it challenging to establish her culture.

“Taking over a program is hard that first year because there’s no familiarity,” she said. “You don’t know the players and they don’t know you.”

But over the years, Turner and her staff have been able to recruit players who fit their vision—players who embodied the team’s selfless, resilient approach to the game. Slowly but surely, Turner and her staff have reshaped Murray State’s women’s basketball program through this groundwork.

What continues to set Turner apart is not just her ability to win games—it is the impact she has on her players beyond the court. “Coach Turner is somebody we can confide in and trust,” junior guard Briley Pena said. “She’s a great role model for us, and I think that’s why this record was so emotional. She puts in so much work, and she means so much to us.”

Her leadership style is built on her deep value for faith and family, as Turner reflects on the help of her support staff, specifically assistant coach Monica Evans, who has been by Turner’s side since day one at Murray State.

That family-first mentality is embedded in everything Turner does as a coach and mentor. She preaches a “we over me” philosophy, ensuring that every person involved in the program—from the top of the coaching staff to the managers is acknowledged for their specific contributions to the program’s success.

Turner’s record-breaking achievement has never been about wins. Instead, it is a testament to perseverance, belief and an unwavering commitment to her team. She has turned Murray State into a program that competes, that wins and that believes in something bigger than basketball.

With the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) tournament approaching, the Racers sit third in the standings, eyeing a championship that would further solidify Turner’s legacy. Her message to the team remains the same:

“We don’t look behind us, and we don’t look ahead,” she said. “We try to stay where our feet are.”

But no matter how this season ends, one thing is certain²Turner’s impact on Murray State women’s basketball is undeniable. She has built something lasting, something meaningful. And while she may never want the spotlight, her legacy will shine brightly for years to come.

“Faith over fear,” she said.

It is something that has evolved from more than just a motto to the foundation of everything Murray State women’s basketball is.

The women’s basketball team will play their first home game since Jan. 26 when they host the Drake Bulldogs on Thursday, Feb. 13, and then again when they play the UNI Panthers on Saturday, Feb. 15.