Holy Cross High School is excited to announce the appointment of Billy Turnage as Boys Varsity Basketball Head Coach for the upcoming 2023-2024 season.
Billy brings an extensive and successful pedigree to Francis Lewis Boulevard. For the last 18 years at Wings Academy in the Bronx, he transformed the basketball program into a perennial contender in the New York City PSAL. In 2010 he was named Coach of the Year by the NY Daily News. Throughout his time at Wings, his teams won 12 Bronx Borough PSAL Championships, posting a nine-year regular unbeaten streak along the way. These efforts culminated in 2015 with a New York City PSAL Championship and a New York State Federation Championship, with Wings finishing as the 15th ranked team in the nation in the USA Today basketball poll.
No stranger to the CHSAA, or Holy Cross, Billy played here at Cross for three years, including on the Varsity under Jim Kerr, until financial hardship necessitated him transferring to Andrew Jackson High School for his senior year. That experience has led to feelings of “unfinished business” with the upper echelon of the CHSAA – AA division. After all these years, Billy looks forward to returning to home to Holy Cross.
Prior to Wings, Billy spent five years at St. Mary’s in Manhasset as a Varsity Assistant and was on staff for their 2002 New York State Championship title year. After that, he joined the Varsity staff at Holy Cross as an Assistant Coach, spending two seasons here helping develop a young core of players that went on to with the 2008 CHSAA City and State Championships. His son Tai currently plays in the CHSAA for St. Raymond’s High School in the Bronx, a 10th grader who’s played on the Varsity there the past two seasons.
Billy is well known, well liked, and well respected in New York City basketball circles. He brings a balanced mix of professionalism, discipline, and enthusiasm that resonates with all those who work with him- especially his players. He is looking forward to getting our student athletes prepared for the season ahead, and most importantly, life after basketball and Holy Cross.
Director of Athletics Keith Goggin ‘92 had this to say regarding Coach Turnage:
“First off, I’d like to thank Ray Cullinan for all the work he put into Holy Cross basketball. He stepped up to the Varsity when I needed him to, and I’ll put his coaching ability up against anyone. After 19 years coaching basketball here, he leaves our program as the only man to be the head coach of all four of our Boys teams- Freshmen, JV, Varsity “B” and Varsity.
As for Coach Turnage, I’m grateful that he’s embraced the challenge. I’m also so happy that Billy’s agreed to come back where it all began. We were teammates thirty years ago; now we’re teammates again. I’m looking forward to the future of our Boys program with someone as successful as Billy at the helm.”
President Mark Mongelluzzo ’92 added:
“After a selective search and interviewing multiple qualified candidates, Billy Turnage emerged as the clear choice to move Holy Cross Boys Basketball to a bright future. We are excited to work with him and welcome him home.”
Welcome aboard Coach Turnage! We are happy to have you as a Knight once again!