Chris Turco was hired as head baseball coach upon the conclusion of the 2021 baseball season taking the reins from legendary coach Jeff Rowland upon his retirement. Prior to being named head coach, Turco spent 18 yeas as an assistant coach with the Hounds starting his high school coaching career with the Greyhounds in the 2004 season.

During the 2022 season, Turco’s inaugural season at the helm of the baseball program, the Houns captured both the region 6-AAAAAA championship as well as the AAAAAA State Championship. During the run to the state title the Hounds posted a perfect 10-0 record during the playoffs which is the only unblemished playoff run ever posted by the Greyhounds. The Hounds won 26 of their final 27 games during the 2022 season season enroute to a 33-7 overall record as well as a #17 national ranking by NHS / Baseball America. The Hounds also received national rankings by Collegiate Baseball (21), Max Preps (16), and Perfect Game (17). For Turco’s efforts during the 2022 season he was awarded Cobb County Coach of the Year by the Marietta Daily Journal as well as Braves 400 club Coach of the year by the Atlanta Braves 400 fan club.

During Turco’s 18 years as assistant with the program Pope Baseball experienced astronomical success capturing 4 additional state championships and 7 region championships while qualifying for the state playoffs 14 of the 18 seasons. During the Hound’s successful run, Pope finished ranked in the top 30 nationally five times with the 2019, 2017 and 2018 all finishing n the top 10 of the Baseball America poll, the 2013 team finishing 21st, and the 2016 state runner up team finishing ranked 26th in the country.

Turco has varied experience as he filled a variety of roles for Pope Baseball throughout his coaching tenure serving mainly as the lead hitting coach for the program, but also serving as the program’s pitching coach, catching coach, outfield coach, and base-running coach. Turco was able to add to his coaching repertoire with travel ball / summer ball head coaching experience leading the Pope Baseball summer baseball team for 2 years in 2005 and 2006 prior to leading the East Cobb Longhorns and East Cobb Dynasty travel ball teams in the summers of 2007 and 2008.

Turco started his head coaching career on the fastpitch softball diamond with the Pope Fastpitch team serving 2 separate stints with the program totaling 14 years as head coach. During his tenure, Turco amassed over 330 wins while leading the hounds to 2 State Championships, 3 state runner ups, and 5 region championships. Turco led the hounds to the state playoffs 12 of his 14 seasons at the helm and Turco closed out his softball career qualifying for the state finals tournament in Columbus 8 of the last 9 seasons as head coach taking the team to the State Championship game his last 3 seasons. For his efforts with pope Fastpitch, Turco has been named the State Coach of the year by the Georgia Dugout Club 5 times as well as Cobb County Coach of the year 3 times.

Turco has helped 25 Pope Fastpitch players reach the collegiate ranks and Turco has worked with numerous Pope Baseball players that have advanced to play college baseball and beyond including 12 baseball players that have advanced to professional baseball. Turco has been fortunate enough to work with 2 Gatorade players of the year with Josh Lowe being named POY for the 2016 baseball season and Kelly Barnhill being named POY for the 2014 softball season. For his inaugural head baseball coaching season, Turco had the good fortune of working with Dawson Campbell who was named state player of the year and an All American for his efforts both on the mound, at the plate and in CF for the Greyhounds.

Turco is a 1998 graduate of Pope High School where his baseball career earned him a scholarship to Presbyterian College. Upon completing his 4 year playing career at “PC”, turco began his coaching career at Presbyterian helping lead the Blue Hose to the South Atlantic Conference Championship and a spot in the NCAA national tournament in 2003.

Turco is married to the former Niki Eskew who was a collegiate soccer player at Anderson University and the Turcos reside in Woodstock with their two children Wyatt and Maggie.