A former Southwest Florida standout with Hall of Fame credentials is taking the reins of one of the area’s most accomplished high school volleyball programs.
Seacrest Country Day hired Fort Myers Beach native Tyra Turner to become the director of volleyball for the school’s four-time state champion squad.
“Volleyball, I think, is considered my first real job, so as far as excitement, being in the gym and being able to give back in Seacrest in this way – it’s really meaningful to me,” she said.
Turner worked on the education side at Seacrest the last eight years and currently serves as Seacrest’s Head of Lower School. Becoming a part of the volleyball program represents a return to the sport where she dedicated a major part of her life and career.
“I’m surrounded by, most of my day, by 3-to-10 year olds, which I absolutely love,” she said. “And now I have the best of both worlds – I spend my morning time with my littles, and then once I get closer to the end of the day, I get to go to the other part of campus and spend time with my big kids.”
Turner even has a relationship with some of her Seacrest players going back to when they were 4 and 5 years old.
Turner was a standout at Cypress Lake High School, where she holds several school records. She went on to play at the University of Central Florida and became a member of the U.S. National Team from 1997 to 2000. She later transitioned to beach volleyball, playing for nine years on the AVP tour.
A former Female Athlete of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year at UCF, she entered the school’s Hall of Fame in 2004. She is the school record holder for blocks and second in UCF history in kills.
Turner was inducted into the LCAC Hall of Fame in 2015.
After her playing career, Turner served on the USA Volleyball Board of Directors and was a founding member of the USAV Cadre Coaching Education Program, the formal instructional framework for certifying volleyball coaches nationwide.
After moving back to Southwest Florida and while parenting young children, Turner set volleyball to the side as she pursued her passion for childhood education at Seacrest.
With her children older and Seacrest’s director of volleyball position open, Turner decided the timing was right for her.
“When I brought the opportunity home to the kiddos and my husband, I said, ‘How do you feel about mommy coaching?’ And they were like, ‘Yes, do it, do it, do it, do it.’ We want to see you coach. We can’t wait. You’ll be so good for the girls.’ So there was a need and then there was a desire on my end to work with these girls.”
Turner will be the fourth coach in the role in the last five seasons at Seacrest. The turnover hasn’t slowed down the Stingrays, who won four consecutive Class 1A state championships until their run was snapped by Boca Raton Christian in the state semifinals last season.
Turner has already met with players as well as their parents and can feel the excitement.
“I told the girls, I don’t require much volleyball skill from them,” Turner said. “I require 100 percent attitude and effort, and I’m very confident in my coaching abilities. Meaning, if they come to me every day with the right attitude and effort, then we will move mountains. I can make them better at volleyball. I can make them better communicators. I can make them better human beings.”
Turner is replacing two-year head coach Andy Wimmer, who oversaw a turbulent 2025 season for the Stingrays.
Last October, the FHSAA determined the school committed an impermissible benefit because of an arrangement for a player to live with a parent of a teammate, which violates state policy. Seacrest self-reported, and the team had to forfeit all their regular-season wins, and the player was suspended.
“My goal for these girls is not to just support volleyball,” Turner said. “My goal for these young women is to build a relationship that transforms their lives. And I think that that, to me, is the highlight. That, to me, is the shiniest part of this opportunity – is to be with them, whether we win or lose, or whether we set records or earn banners – the opportunity to transform their lives so that, whether they come back to Seacrest in 10 years or 30 years, you know, they come back to the area, and they look for me.”
Turner said that is the kind of relationship she enjoys with her former volleyball coach, Stephanie Martin, a Southwest Florida coaching legend.
Prior to Seacrest’s 5-24 season last year that came as a result of the FHSAA punishment, the Stingrays went 101-16 the four previous seasons.
“I did volleyball every day of my life as a professional,” Turner said. “And then I had my family and my husband. And so when you are that intense, and you live and breathe the sport for a living, I missed out on a lot. And when I had time and was able to focus on my family, that’s what I wanted to do. And now time is really permitting me, giving me this availability to work with these girls. And I don’t take volleyball lightly. Even though I say it’s not about banners and it’s not about winning – it’s not, but I also take this sport so seriously, in every facet, and if I don’t have the time and the ability to give it what it deserves, then I won’t do it because I respect it too much.”
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Seacrest hires former pro, hall of famer Tyra Turner as volleyball coach
Reporting by Dustin B Levy, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dustin B Levy, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
