CVCS Continues Athletic Power Play with Hiring of Turner-Lewis

is hoping to vastly improve its athletic department this summer.

This month the Eagles brought aboard another new head coach with a hefty résumé: Tuonisia Turner-Lewis.

Turner-Lewis will lead the girls' basketball program, which struggled last season under Ken Nipp. The team finished last in the San Joaquin League with a 3-18 record. Then in June, the program lost its top three scorers to graduation.

Turner-Lewis' experience includes 16 seasons as an NCAA Division 1 coach. Her most recent stint came at the University of Winthrop in South Carolina, where she served as an assistant coach during the 2010-2011 campaign. 

After a year on the East Coast, Turner-Lewis returns to California. She previously held the head coaching position at Cal State L.A. from 2007 to 2010 and was JSerra Catholic High School’s head coach in 2005. 

"She comes in with an incredible background of experience," CVCS athletic director Dan Dodd said. "Tuonisia brings an amazing basketball pedigree with her and has proven herself as both a player and a coach.”

Turner-Lewis excelled on the court an athlete at University of Louisville, where she was recognized as the team's Most Valuable Player in 1992. At the time of her graduation, she ranked first on the Cardinals' all-time three-point field goal list. 

“I am excited about being the new coach at CVCS,” she said. “I respect the school so much and really believe in what they do for their students, their families and the community. I'm looking forward to working for a terrific A.D. in Dan Dodd."

was the school's first big move of the year. He was selected as athletic director and football coach in May. Prior to accepting the job with CVCS, Dodd was the offensive coordinator for Tulane University's Division 1 football program.

Despite CVCS's small school population, it appears the administration is focused on elevating the Eagles' athletic profile. Ron Sipus, who serves as head of schools, and high school Principal Dr. Terry Gaunt have spearheaded the effort, according to Dodd.

"This is a major part of Dr. Sipus and Dr. Gaunt's vision for the school," Dodd said. "One of the goals is to establish a big-time athletic program that competes for championships every year. This hiring shows further commitment to that vision." 

It didn't take long for Dodd to capitalize on that vision with his first hire.

"[Dodd] is one of those administrators that gets it," Turner-Lewis said. "He understands exactly what coaches are trying to accomplish and can see the effort put forth to make CVCS a strong competitive athletic program across the board. I am looking forward to stepping out on the court and representing CVCS."