Coaching success can be tracked and quantified by wins and losses. Leadership, player and staff development can explain the number of wins and titles.
Charli Turner Thorne's emergence as ASU women's basketball's winningest coach and No. 2 in the Pac-12 with 476 career wins can be explained by all of the above and her character.
Time and time again, one word is common among descriptions of Turner Thorne: winner.
ASU was one of the first to experience Turner Thorne's galvanizing aura, offering her a coaching position multiple times before she finally accepted in 1996.
Sandy Hatfield Clubb, former associate athletics director for Sun Devil Athletics and an intercollegiate sports consultant, led the search for the new coach who could turn the ASU women's basketball program around. At the time, the program was a disaster. The team was one of the worst teams in the then Pac-10, had won only 20 games in three years and was underfunded, Hatfield Clubb said.
Turner Thorne, who was coaching at NAU, painted a picture of her character in seconds of meeting people from ASU. She was coaching for all the right reasons — using basketball as an opportunity to impact young women's lives. Hatfield Clubb called the athletic director as she walked to her car after the meeting with Turner Thorne.
"We found her," Hatfield Clubb said. "This is it. We've got to get this one."
During her interview for the position, Turner Thorne said the team would win the Pac-10 tournament and go to the NCAA in five years. At the time, Hatfield Clubb and the athletic director were astonished.
In Turner Thorne's fifth year, she led ASU to share a Pac-10 tournament title, and her team lost, 83-66, to Louisiana State University in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
"She's a programmer"
Turner Thorne continued to surprise everyone as she succeeded on and off the court.
One of her most impressive feats — technically three — is unheard of. After the birth of each of her three boys — Conor, Liam, and Quinn — Turner Thorne never took maternity leave and was back to work within days.
Liam was born within days of the 2001 NCAA tournament.
"I had to hurry him along," Turner Thorne said. "I had some Pitocin and bounced on a ball. He popped right out."
Three days later, Turner Thorne, her husband and newborn Liam were on a plane to the NCAA tournament.
"We all had pinkeye," Liam laughed. "But she's a programmer. She knows her limits and how strong she is. She's not going to sit around when she knows she could be doing more."
"She married the right person"
Turner Thorne's husband, Will Thorne, is someone out of the ordinary, and their origin story is serendipity.
Will worked in information technology when Turner Thorne was an assistant coach at Santa Clara University. When he responded to a call to fix a problem, Will thought, "Who is this pretty lady?"
Turner Thorne, all business, immediately questioned how long the problem would take to fix.
Will needed an excuse to see Turner Thorne and said the problem would take three to four weeks to fix, though, in reality, it could have been solved in a mere two hours.
Will has quit his job at times to support the family and his wife's dreams. He won't let anything stop him from doing what's best for his family and ensuring his wife goes down as one of the best coaches.
"My dad is her rock," Liam said. "He knows how taxing her job and life are, and he's just somebody who understands what it means to support someone.”
"I understand she's changing lives"
Only the family of a basketball coach can understand how time-consuming the career is.
They can be gone weeks at a time and sometimes don't even have the time to call for days, like when Turner Thorne coached the USA basketball team and won a pair of gold medals.
"There are really no days off when you're trying to be a successful coach," Turner Thorne said.
Turner Thorne noted her absence is an effect of being a coach, and it only drives her to do more for her kids when her time doesn't always allow it.
When her boys were younger, she'd let them have an annual ditch day. She would skip work, and they'd go to Fiddlesticks, a mini-golf and arcade amusement park. They would play, eat and talk all day before returning to reality.
"I understand why I don't see her more," Liam said. "I understand she is out there doing amazing things, changing lives and how important her work is and I never want to get in the way of that.
"If you love somebody, of course, you wish to see them more. But we live in moments, and I'm very happy for her and proud."
"She would do anything for you on and off the court"
Sophie Brunner, a former ASU basketball star (2013-17) and professional basketball player who is an assistant coach for the Rockford Christian girls basketball program in Illinois, described ASU's culture as top tier in academics and the team as "gritty" and "super disciplined" because of Turner Thorne.
"She really believed in me when I didn't believe in myself," Brunner said.
One day during Brunner's sophomore year, Brunner was stressed and homesick. Turner Thorne wanted Brunner to improve her hook shots, but Brunner was shooting bricks. Brunner started crying, which was unusual for her. Later that day, Turner Thorne approached Brunner to ask what happened.
"Do what you have to do," Turner Thorne told Brunner. "If you can't do it today, you can't do it, but you have to find other ways to give."
Since they've met, Turner Thorne has never missed sending Brunner a birthday, Thanksgiving or Christmas text.
"(Relationships between player and coach) can be very transactional," Turner Thorne said. "But the way I like to do it is transformative."
"She's a tenacious winner"
Turner Thorne's impressive career has led to many accolades and merits, leading ASU to six NCAA tournament appearances from 2014-19 with two of those appearances resulting in making it to the Elite Eight. She has also earned three conference titles and three Sweet 16 finishes throughout her career.
Many look to the future to see what Turner Thorne, 55, will accomplish next, but she lives in the moment.
"I look forward to graduation," Turner Thorne said. "Every graduation ceremony, that's what's special to me."
Nevertheless, critics are quick to point out a feat that has yet to be acquired: an NCAA title.
Why is that?
"Most coaches haven't won an NCAA title, and it's no easy feat," Hatfield Clubb said. "She hasn't done it yet, but I've seen her face.
"She's a tenacious winner, and she's on her way."
Reach the reporter at rgarora@asu.edu and follow @RubyGiaArora on Twitter.
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