WHISENHUNT STEPS BACK FROM SHOWBOATS ROLE
Memphis Showboats head coach Ken Whisenhunt is to take a leave of absence from the team just days before the new United Football League season is due to kick off.
UFL president and CEO Russ Brandon and EVP of football operations Daryl Johnston confirmed Whisenhunt’s decision, which was made for personal reasons, before confirming that offensive line coach Jim Turner would serve as interim head coach for the 2025 season.
Whisenhunt became head coach of the Showboats last September, bringing nearly 30 years as a football coach at various levels in the NFL and NCAA — including a stint as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals between 2007-12 where he won two NFC West Division Championships and a berth in Super Bowl XLII. He also spent time as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans and, as offensive coordinator, helped lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to victory in Super Bowl XL. His appointment in Memphis added another layer of validity to the UFL as he took over one of the weaker teams from season one and implemented a new culture that looked set to pay dividends in the forthcoming campaign.
“The impact that Ken has made on the culture of the Memphis Showboats in his brief time as head coach has been very impressive and we were excited to see the team perform in Week 1,” a joint statement from Brandon and Johnston read. “We take pride in the UFL being a ‘family first’ league and we respect Ken’s decision to take a leave of absence for personal reasons at this time.”
Turner, meanwhile, is no stranger to high-level football, having also coached for nearly 30 years at the professional and collegiate levels. He remained as the Showboats’ offensive line coach following Whisenhunt’s arrival, having previously served in a similar capacity for the USFL’s New Orleans Breakers between 2022-23, after stints in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals (2019-20) and Miami Dolphins (2012-13). A four-year letterman at Boston College and an officer in the United States Marine Corp for four years (1990-94), Turner coached the offensive line at Texas A&M from 2008-11 and from 2016-17, as well as making coaching stops at his alma mater (2007), Delaware (2005-06), Temple (2003-04), Harvard (2000-02), Louisiana Tech (1999) and Northeastern (1994-99).
“We are fortunate to have Jim Turner in place to fill in as interim head coach and we are excited for his opportunity to lead the Showboats into the opening week of season two,” the UFL statement continued. “If and when Ken Whisenhunt is ready to return to the UFL family, we will welcome him with open arms.”
The Showboats kick off their 2025 UFL regular season campaign this Sunday (30th March) against the Michigan Panthers.