NBA star Elston Turner, prep football coach Eddie Courtney may have facilities named in their honor

The Austin-East Magnet High School's gym floor soon could be named in honor of a Knoxville native NBA player and coach, and Farragut High School's stadium could be named in honor of a coach who recently retired as the fifth "winningest" in the state.

Here's a look at the proposals under consideration:

The Elston Turner Gymnasium Floor

Turner, a pro basketball player and coach, graduated from Austin-East High School in 1977 and returned often to give back to the community, according to the nomination. He has awarded over $50,000 in scholarships to the school's graduates through fundraising from summer camps held at the gym.

Turner's list of achievements is long. The 6-foot-5 Roadrunners standout went on to a stellar career at Ole Miss 1977-81, leading the Rebels to the NCAA Tournament for the first time his senior season. He was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the 1981 NBA Draft and played eight seasons in the NBA before stops in Europe before retiring in 1995.

He went on to coach several NBA teams.

"Elston has provided leadership and character development to not only the top NBA superstars but also to the youth of Knoxville," Steve Diggs, Emerald Youth Foundation president and CEO, said in his letter nominating Turner.

Two years ago, the city of Knoxville dedicated a street in his honor.

"He's done a great job giving back to the community since he's been in the NBA," said Tony Grimes, a lifelong friend of Turner's who filed the nomination. "Any time Austin-East needs to raise money or has a fundraiser, he's (Turner) one of the first contributors to try to help better the community."

Coach Eddie Courtney Stadium

Courtney was first hired as an assistant coach at Farragut in 1977 and took over the program in 1996. He retired after 28 years.

Courtney's legacy at Farragut High School is remarkable. He retired with 204 career victories, which is fifth among active coaches in the state. He has 28 playoff wins and has been named region coach of the year four times.

He was selected as the PrepXtra Coach of the Year in 2016 and received the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame Pat Summitt Ignite Award in 2017.

In December 2021, Courtney was inducted into the 2020 class of Tennessee Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He has coached over 200 college signees, 47 all-state players, six Mr. Football finalists, and six NFL players.

The proposal to name the stadium for Courtney garnered several endorsements from business to political leaders.

"As impressive as this (Courtney's) resume is, even more important is coach Courtney's dedication to his players off the field where he places a priority on academics and becoming productive members of the society. While educators like coach Courtney may not be rare in our country, we cannot take them for granted," Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs wrote in a letter supporting the nomination.

The Knox County Board of Education's Naming Facilities Committee will consider the two proposals at its meeting at 3:30 pm. June 25 at 500 W. Summit Hill Drive.

Areena Arora, data and investigative reporter for Knox News, can be reached by email at areena.arora@knoxnews.com. Follow her on X @AreenaArora and on Instagram @areena_news

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Elston Turner, Eddie Courtney may have Knox County facilities named in their honor