Cenk Akarpinar joined Merrimack women’s basketball in June 2026, bringing experience in player and skill development, video scouting, opponent analysis, and professional-level advanced scouting — including ongoing work with the Dallas Wings in the WNBA.

Recognized for his detail-oriented approach, modern film methodology, and ability to elevate player development through individualized skill progression (with both NBA and WNBA players) and analytics, Akarpinar has established himself as a coach with a strong foundation in both on-court teaching and high-level game preparation.

Before joining Merrimack, Akarpinar spent three seasons as an Assistant Coach at Mitchell College Men’s Basketball, where he oversaw video scouting operations, player and skill development, drill design, playbook preparation, opponent scouting, and game-film presentation. His work helped modernize Mitchell’s scouting processes while strengthening player development and daily training structure.

Akarpinar’s coaching impact first emerged at Stonington High School during the 2022-23 season. Joining the staff midyear after a 2-8 start, he helped lead the team to a 12-11 finish and an Eastern Connecticut Conference championship, demonstrating his ability to quickly influence culture, development, and game preparation.
Since 2023, Akarpinar has worked as a WNBA Advance Scout, first with the Los Angeles Sparks and currently with the Dallas Wings. Across multiple seasons, he has produced opponent analyses, scouting reports, video breakdowns, in-game evaluations, and individualized player edits for WNBA head and assistant coaches. His ongoing work with the Wings continues to sharpen his expertise in film study, tendencies, and strategic preparation at the highest professional level.




Coaching Experience
2026–Present – Merrimack College Assistant Coach
2024–Present – Dallas Wings (WNBA) Advance Scout
2023–24 –Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA) Advance Scout
2023–26 – Mitchell College (Men’s Basketball) Assistant Coach
2022–23 – Stonington High School (Girl’s Basketball) Assistant Coach

Education
B.S., Mechanical Engineering – Gaziantep University (GAUN), 2021
Euroleague Head Coaches Academy – University of Belgrade, 2022