The Turgeon family established The Leo Fund with the aim of generating awareness and financial resources for organizations dedicated to Alzheimer’s disease. Sharing a common experience with many others, the Turgeon family has encountered personal loss due to Alzheimer’s disease. Their aspiration is to allocate funds towards initiatives that strive to eradicate this disease and enhance the quality of life for families that are navigating it.

Mark Turgeon’s journey has been defined by a passion for competition and a lifelong love of the game of basketball. He first etched his name in the annals of sports history, leading his Hayden High School team to the Kansas State Basketball Championships in 1982 and 1983. He then ventured to the hallowed halls of the University of Kansas where he pursued an education and his athletic dream of becoming the first player in Kansas history to achieve the remarkable feat of four consecutive NCAA tournaments. Mark’s transition to coaching was a natural progression and included coaching at his Alma mater from 1988-1993 before moving on to Assistant Coach at the University of Oregon. His first head coaching post was at Jacksonville State and then Wichita State where he saw his first Sweet 16 appearance and received the honor of being named the Missouri Valley Coach of the Year. Next was Texas A&M where he guided the team to four consecutive NCAA tournaments. The University of Maryland became his canvas in 2011 where he led his team to the Big Ten Championship in 2020 and was named Big Ten Coach of the Year, validating his tenacity and commitment to the sport and his players. After 35 years of coaching, Mark recently stepped away from coaching to surround himself with his greatest blessing – his family – and to pursue other opportunities that interest him, including giving back to those most in need. He lives in Kensington Maryland with his wife Ann and is proud dad to Will, Ella and Leo.