SMU Poaches Top USC Recruiter Turner Home

Zaire Turner, a Dallas native and former USC assistant athletic director of recruiting, has been hired by SMU as its senior director of recruiting. This homecoming move fulfills a desire Turner held for several years, as SMU had previously reached out to her two years ago. Turner confirmed the decision, stating that while she had been blessed with opportunities at USC and other programs, she felt it was the right time to return to her roots.

Turner's tenure at USC, under general manager Chad Bowden, was highly successful, contributing to the Trojans securing the college football's top-ranked 2026 recruiting class. Her new role at SMU will involve working directly with head coach Rhett Lashlee and assistant athletic director J.R. Sandlin. Turner's career began at Texas Tech and also included a stint at Notre Dame.

Having experienced various aspects of program management, including budget discussions and administrative collaboration at USC, Turner feels well-prepared for her new leadership position. She expressed excitement about showcasing her hometown and the SMU program to potential recruits, emphasizing the positive impressions she gained from Coach Lashlee and the SMU staff, which rivaled the strong family atmosphere at USC.