WASHINGTON – Georgetown University has announced the hiring of Akanni Turner as the new associate director of athletics for compliance. Turner comes to the Hilltop after a four-year stint at the Mountain West Conference. He is a longtime athletics administrator that will lead the Department's NCAA compliance efforts.
"I am excited to assist the Hoya coaches, administration and student-athletes in continuing their success in all of their athletic and academic endeavors," said Turner.
At the Mountain West, Turner managed the day-to-day operations of the compliance office while serving as a resource for its member schools to assist with rules and regulations by providing research, interpretations, education sessions, managing risks and conducting investigations. He assisted in identifying legislative issues and drafting legislative concepts during a time when the NCAA went through significant change.
Prior to his time at the MW, Turner was the associate athlete ombudsman at the United States Olympic Committee. He was responsible for providing independent advice to athletes and national governing bodies in relation to the rules, regulations and policies of many organizations. Turner also assisted in mediating disputes, while researching laws, rules, policies, precedent and case law of all relevant organizations to provide advice to athletes or propose future changes.
Turner has experience at the University level working in compliance at the University of Arizona athletics department from 2013-18 eventually working his way up to an assistant athletics director. Additionally, he served as a sport liaison for the men's and women's cross country and track & field programs, the drug testing coordinator, worked with the University of Arizona's Hearing Board and chaired the department's Diversity and Inclusion Working Group.
The native of Inglewood, California spent one year at the NCAA working in the academic and membership affairs (AMA) department analyzing and processing APR, initial-eligibility, progress towards degree, and legislative relief waivers as well as interpreting and analyzing Divisions I, II, and III legislation for institutions within the NCAA.
Prior to his arrival at the NCAA, Turner spent three years at Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, California where he taught English, public speaking and street law as well as serving as an academic counselor and administrator. Turner was a football coach at Serra where he owned a 55-5 record, won the 2009 California State Championship and was the 2010 California state runner-up.
Turner played football at the University of Cincinnati and earned his bachelor's degree in 2004. He went on to receive his juris doctorate from the university in 2008.
