MORRIS, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Morris is excited to announce the hiring of Carter Turnquist as its new head baseball coach.
 
Turnquist becomes the 15th head coach of Cougar Baseball following Matt O'Brien's departure to become an assistant coach at the Division I level. Over his seven seasons, O'Brien totaled 98 wins, the third-most in program history. In 2023, he helped UMM make its first Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Tournament appearance in 16 years. Last season, he led the Cougars to their first UMAC Tournament victory in 19 years, defeating the University of Northwestern 12-9.
 
"I will forever be grateful for my time at the University of Minnesota Morris and for everyone who made this place home for me and my family," said O'Brien. "I'm especially thankful to Director of Athletics Matt Johnson for giving me the opportunity to lead this program and for his support throughout my time here. Together, we accomplished things that hadn't been done before and helped take Cougar Baseball to a place I'm incredibly proud of, but what I'll cherish most are the relationships with the current and former players who made this program a family. I'm excited about where Cougar Baseball is headed and will always be grateful for the seven years we were fortunate enough to call Morris home."
 
Turnquist will join assistant coaches Mason Rapp and Richard Stock in leading Cougar Baseball for the 2027 season.
 
"I want to thank Matt O'Brien for his commitment to UMN Morris over the past seven seasons," said athletic director Matt Johnson. "The experience of our Cougar Baseball student-athletes was significantly enhanced during Matt's tenure, and we are grateful for his dedication to our program. We wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors."
 
"Carter Turnquist is a tremendous addition to Cougar Baseball," stated Johnson. "His proven success in recruiting, player development, and building winning programs aligns perfectly with our vision at UMN Morris. Cougar Baseball competes in a highly competitive landscape, and I firmly believe Carter's experience, leadership, and commitment to student-athlete growth will have an immediate impact on our program as we continue to pursue championships while also providing a first-class student-athlete experience."
 
Prior to joining Minnesota Morris, Turnquist spent four years as an assistant coach at Aurora University. During his time there, the team went 132-51, won two conference titles, two conference tournament titles, and one regional title. Turnquist served as the recruiting coordinator and director of player development for the Spartans.
 
Turnquist has also served as an ESP private instructor and head coach in Oswego, Ill. In that role, he provided individualized instruction to support the development of hitters and pitchers.
 
"I am incredibly honored and excited to be named the Head Baseball Coach at the University of Minnesota Morris," said Turnquist. "I would like to thank Matt Johnson for this opportunity to lead the Cougar program. This is an opportunity I am truly grateful for, and I look forward to building a program centered around competitive excellence, strong character, and championship habits."
 
"I want to sincerely thank Aurora University, Head Coach Adam Stevens, my colleagues, my wife, my family, and everyone who has supported me throughout my time there. Aurora has played a tremendous role in my growth as a coach and as a person, and I will always be grateful for the relationships, experiences, and opportunities I was given. I am excited to carry those lessons with me into this next chapter at Minnesota Morris and look forward to building something special with the Cougars."
 
Turnquist graduated from Aurora University with a degree in sport management and earned his MBA from Aurora. He was a member of the Spartans' baseball team and was named team captain for his senior season.