NATIONAL COLLEGIATE GRAPPLING OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION

NCGA OFFICIALS DIRECTOR
Don Turnage was born in California and grew up South Carolina. As a young athlete he played team sports as well as wrestled in high school. He began to find a passion for combative environment after finishing college. Upon moving to Texas he found his way into a boxing gym where he competed in recreational boxing and became a student of the sport in and out of the gym. As he studied the art of boxing he began to gain interest in martial arts. In 1999 he found Carlos Machado and took his very first Brazilian Jujitsu class where he found a new passion. He began to train and compete, as the popularity of the sport continued to increase.
Don holds a Black belt in Brazilian Jujitsu and still trains and learns every opportunity he gets. He currently officiates for the TDLR, OSAC and several other commissions. Don as officiated in most major MMA promotions and many grappling events over the years. He has a passion with see the mixed martial arts grow at the college level, giving these student athletes an avenue for collegiate competition while furthering their life long educational goals.