It was at Hinds that Reed led the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) in rebounds per game and was also second in the conference in scoring. Jackson State is turning to a Jackson native to lead its women's basketball program. "She led the program to its first SWAC regular-season championship in over 10 years and has set the foundation for continued success. She earned an associates degree in sports medicine from Hinds in 2001 and a bachelors in exercise science from Georgia Southwestern in 2003. Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Forensics Laboratory. ", "She has grown tremendously," Reed said. The SWAC honored Reed as the Coach of the Year after. They stormed back from down 47-30 to take a stunning 10-point lead. 4 among non-AQ programs) in 2010 and the No. For Reed, not all technical fouls are bad, some are about gamesmanship to get a call later in the game. However, Reed spoke with passion aboutof the importance of fighting to make things better at JSU. I had Power Five ADs reach out to me and say, Hey, lets talk about this. The Blue and White finished conference play with a 16-2 mark which tied the program record. Mulkey will make north of $2.5 million this season. He is bringing more respect to the HBCU community, I will say that. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); HoopDirt is your source for the latest college basketball coaching news, rumors, and job postings. That's why Reed's presence at Jackson State is so impactful. Georgia Southwestern State University Coach Tomekia Reed is a native of Jackson, Mississippi, and a 1999 graduate of Murrah High School. She served as the top assistant, worked with post players, and served as the teams academic liaison. Always that one that was helping and I put my hands in everything and thats who I am as a head coach right now. The team has instituted a watch for negative displays of emotions during practice and games. Design Your Ideal Work Environment & Work Day. Year three of my plan happened in year one and two by the grace of GodIm so thankful and I just want to stay in that mercy and in that favorbut going into year four, I mentioned that I wanted to have national prominence. Mississippi State Personnel Board. And I would like to say our Athletic Director has opened the gate to level the playing field for HBCUs by bringing Deion on board. KING DAYJSU COACH MO WILLIAMS ON ML KING DAY. I tell our recruits all the time, a fancy building is not going to pat you on the back when youre not feeling good. The Tigers' athletic department described his extension as a "multi-year" deal. tomekia.reed@hindscc.edu Phone 601.885.7023 Tomekia Reed was chosen as the new head women's basketball coach at Hinds Community College, her alma mater, on Friday, April 10, 2015. All of the things that he prayed for and all of the things that he spoke for., REED SCOWL DRAWS TECHNICAL FOULSTomekia Reed's scowls draw technical fouls and often help Jackson State women's basketball. She helped lead the program to a WNIT appearance before transferring to Hinds Community College for the 2000-2001 season. #RiseTheUnderdog, You know, that was something Ive been feeling for a very long time, Reed says over a Zoom call in August. She's made three of the last four NCAA Tournaments and she almost upstaged Mulkey despite having a fraction of the resources. After the final buzzer sounded Saturday, and LSU narrowly staved off what would have been one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournamentwomen's basketball history,coachKim Mulkeyhad a message for Jackson State coach Tomekia Reed. Reed transferred to Georgia Southwestern State University after her time at Hinds, where she led the team in scoring (finishing second in the conference) and earned the teams most valuable player award. Ameshya Williams-Holliday, their star player who doubles as a wife and mother, Reed had screamed when brackets were released, Six months after that, she gave birth to her son, Jace, met her husband by beating him in one-on-one basketball. 1 seed in the 2020 SWAC Tournament before COVID-19 caused the cancellation of postseason play. We caught up with the 2020 Coach of the Year to learn more about her coaching journey, the disrespect that she feels Black female HBCU coaches experience in the industry, and how shes building a championship program at Jackson State. It hadn't materialized, but it's the scene Jackson State had envisioned too, the scenario that would have made them March darlings. Coach Reed has done a tremendous job and has elevated the program in her two short years on the job, Robinson said. We have to continue to fight for our culture. "I said, you ain't going to be at Jackson State long if they don't pay you," Mulkey said"And I'm not her agent, I'm not her best friend, I just know talent and I respect people from afar on a job well done. TR: The disrespect runs deep. Dps-State Medical Examiner. Reed, at the time, was the head coach at Hinds Community College, her alma mater. Head Women's Basketball Coach JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY 20, '22 SWAC Coach of the Year '20, '21, '22 SWAC Reg Season . This March Madness story, of a player-mother and her caring coach, who almost led Jackson State to an upset of LSU, deserves to be told. That is why we film our games, to teach our players.. LSU coach Kim Mulkey said Tomekia Reed wont be at Jackson State long if they dont pay her. Saturdays 83-77 win over the SWAC champions marked the second time in as many seasons as shes had to go through JSU to get to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The No. Re-Engaging in Education for All to Progress, 662 S. President Street, Jackson, MS 39201, Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). For this year, we want to go in at least 8 to12never, ever done before. Monisha Nealadded to Grambling Womens Basketball Staff, Anderson named Womens Basketball Head Coach at MVSU, Skeete named Womens Basketball Head Coach at Texas Southern, Graduate Assistant Lawrence Technological University, Head Womens Basketball Coach Defiance College, Head Womens Basketball Coach University of Wisconsin River Falls. Reed is a two-time SWAC Coach of The Year (2020, 2022). This season, Jackson State ranked in the top three in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in nearly every major category. He holds a lot of credibility, I dont want him to ever feel like he cannot speak up for what is right, and I want him to know that his voice matters. Another strong statement. HBCUs have had great head coaches in the past and there are many good ones around in the present, particularly given what they have to work with. Amid discussions about the challenges coaches at histocially Black colleges and universities face, two-time SWAC Coach of The Year, Tomekia Reed stepped in to set the record straight in a series of tweets on Wednesday. its time to come back and knock the walls down.. Shes also coached at Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, New Orleans and Hinds CC, where she led her alma-mater to two consecutive winning seasons and the NJCAA Region 23 title game during her three-year tenure. A raucous crowd at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center fell silent. Reed wrote. And it's also why Mulkey's comment, while well-intentioned, may come off as tone deaf to those who take the time to listento what Reed had to say. Reed has the unique distinction of being a part of every JSU women's basketball national tournament appearance since 2006, including being on the coaching staff of three of JSU's six NCAA Tournament games. Mulkey bowed her head, then shook it, oozing relief. They cant even take charter flights anywhere. But now its time to bring the respect [and] acknowledge that, hey, this is a good institution. Left and right arrows move across top level links and expand / close menus in sub levels. Brent has led Jackson State to a 21-18 record in conference play the past two seasons. Williams was also named Defensive Player of the Year. 2,973 following. Martin Luther King Jr., Reed said, I often think about all of the things he fought for. We have to continue to knock on walls to get respect. In the end, her Tigers survived, 83-77. You'll see a change, and we're going to keep working. The turning point? "We're going to keep knocking until the respect is there. 3 seed escaped. $290,000.00. "Coach Reed has done a tremendous job and has elevated the program in her two short years on the job," Robinson said. And, she very well may endup coaching elsewhere. TR: He is just opening up the doors in so many ways for the community, for all sportsthe revenue, the resources that hes bringing. Save on iPhone 14 Pro and more Apple products. 2023 www.clarionledger.com. Coach. And I think that afforded me the opportunity to play four years on a scholarship. I think this has opened an opportunity for us to have that national attention. She has assisted in bringing several high-ranking recruiting classes, including the 2014 class at Louisiana Tech, which garnered a national Top 50 ranking and was the second-highest ranked class in Conference USA. Jackson State had three players on the all-conference team, including Ameshya Williams, who was the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year. Why arent we important to this game of basketball that we love and study and have been a part of for so long, just as much as the others have? Will she remain at Jackson State after the 2022 season or venture into a new and more challenging role elsewhere? After transferring to Georgia Southwestern State University, Reed continued her athletic dominance, this time leading the team in scoring and ultimately named team MVP. But it is obvious that Reeds star is on the rise, and true to Mulkeys words, her pay will have to rise as well. Develop Your Personal Mission Statement & Compelling Vision. This was way back when I got the job [in 2018], we wanted to be nationally known. She earned an associates degree in sports medicine from Hinds in 2001 and a bachelors in exercise science from Georgia Southwestern in 2003. So do the financial disparities. Williams responded that day. Jackson State University is excited to announce Tomekia Reed as the Tigers Head Women's Basketball Coach. Coach Brent and his staff have done a fantastic job recruiting and have the roster in place to win a SWAC championship, Robinson said. Thirty minutes later, Reed says, Williams sent back a picture of a pregnancy test. Current Role & Salary Review. At Hinds, Reed led the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) in rebounds per game and was also second in the conference in scoring. A couple months later, Williams enrolled at Jackson State. At Southern Miss, Reed also assisted in signing the 42nd-ranked recruiting class in the country (No. REED BALANCES CHRISTMAS AND HER SONJackson State women's basketball coach Tomekia Reed balances sport, Christmas for her son, We want to use our emotions as a positive, Reed said. And that program's rise isn't finished. Reed also had assistant coach stops at Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, and New Orleans, serving as recruiting coordinator at each school during her respective stints. Learn more about the BCAhere. "I am thankful for AD Robinson's commitment to our program and we will have several more outstanding seasons to come.". But lets also shine a light on other sports and what other people are doing. This past season Reed was named SWAC Coach of the Year and Ameshya Williams, Marneisha Hamer, and Dayzsha Rogan were named to the all-conference team. Tomekia Reed's scowls draw technical fouls and often help Jackson State women's basketball, Jackson State women's basketball coach Tomekia Reed meets Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Other responsibilities included strength and conditioning liaison, player development, community service coordinator, and summer basketball camp coordinator. Jayvous McKinnis also won SWAC Defensive Player of the Year and Roland Griffin was thethe 2019-20 SWAC Newcomer of the Year this past season for the Tigers. We have to continue to fight for our culture. Under terms of that contract, he wouldn't owe a buyout for leaving Michigan State at this time. And it shouldnt change seeing yourself on a higher platform. A season later, Williams-Holliday who met her husband by beating him in one-on-one basketball, and added his name to hers scored in double figures without fail. Jackson State women's basketball coach Tomekia Reed after loss to LSU: 'We're gonna keep knocking', Jackson State women's basketball falls short of historic upset of LSU in NCAA Tournament, How a game of 1-on-1 basketball changed Ameshya Williams-Holliday's last name, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. They'd talked about the "rise of the underdog." Earlier this month it announced another Jackson hometown hero coming in as head coach in former NBA champion Mo Williams. They took a lead, then extended it and their fans who'd traveled down Interstate-55 roared. And most of the end? TR: For me, I gave a four-year plan when I took this job at Jackson State. The coaching staff films practices and games, and will go over the team's negative emotional plays. The Lady Tigers won 21 straight. Often, her feelings lay bare in front of fans, friends, and player. TR: For me, its just really important to stay classy, stay professional, be a model and just to show we can do this. The Jackson, Mississippi native, who originally joined the program back in '06 as a recruiting coordinator, has taken the HBCU program back to prominence after winning back-to-back SWAC regular. They earned plenty of it Saturday, even if they didn't quite earn history. Monday could bring a litany of thoughts, looking back at early mornings of being together with her mom as they prepared Thanksgiving dinners. SLAM: What are the goals you have for yourself and for the team this upcoming season? Six months after that, she gave birth to her son, Jace. Last Name (Optional First Name with no comma), Mississippi Education, School District Consolidation Program, Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Forensics Laboratory, Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Division of Medical Examiner, Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure, Mississippi Department of Corrections, Medical Division, Mississippi Department of Human Services, Department of Child Protection Services, Public Employees Retirement System of Mississippi, Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Division of Support Services, Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services, Mississippi Education, Educational Television Authority, Mississippi Department of Human Services, Support Services, Mississippi Department of Mental Health, Central Office, Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. Others are about getting her team going. Feb 4, 2023 8:45 AM EST. "Could you please respond to let me know that you're OK?" I don't know what y'all say but all I feel is a loss. Tomekia was in her third year as an assistant coach at Jackson State under Denise Taylor Travis and the Lady Tigers had just won their third-straight SWAC title. In four seasons as head coach, Tomekia Reed has led Jackson State University women's basketball to the top of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. With three consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference championships, the Lady Tigers are off to a 3-0 start in SWAC play this season. Tomekia Reed, a native of Jackson, is a longtime coach with a successful career at the junior college and university levels. But she wasnt kidding and she wasnt wrong.Reed has taken JSU womens basketball to new heights since arriving as head coach in 2018, including back-to-back undefeated SWAC regular seasons and tournament titles along with NCAA appearances. Reed won Coach of the Year. 848 posts. That should not change who you are, and how you carry yourself. I am thankful for AD Robinsons commitment to our program and we will have several more outstanding seasons to come.The Lady Tigers won the 2019-20 SWAC Regular Season Championship and qualified as the No. I hope it has encouraged everybody," Reed said. I took jobs all over the place at predominately white institutions, and the Lord afforded me an opportunity to come back. The man behind those moves was Ashley Robinson, recently named AD of The Year and the recipient of a new contract himself earlier this month. Jackson State womens basketball coach Tomekia Reed coaches the game with passion and attitude. It drew laughs from people in the media room in Baton Rouge after LSU's 83-77 win. Brent, a former longtime high school coach and Clarion Ledger Metro Coach of the Year, made the decision to put team manager Thomas "Snacks" Lee late in a game on senior night. Follow. TOMEKIA REED SCOWL DRAWS TECHNICAL FOULSTomekia Reed's scowls draw technical fouls and often help Jackson State women's basketball The season changed in a 75-58 loss to Texas on Dec. 14, a rare . Reed led Hinds CC to the NJCAA Region 23 title game in 2017. Copyright 2023 SLAM Media Inc. SLAM, SLAMTV, SLAM MEDIA and the SLAM logo are registered After graduating from Murrah, she began her collegiate basketball career at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. As much as Jackson State University women's basketball coach Tomekia Reed knows that now, her journey to this moment has been one of twists, turns and potholes. Kim Mulkey, the fiery LSU coach who'd won titles at Baylor, nearly discarded her golden jacket and brought disbelieving hands to her blonde-haired head. But they also have to provide a competitive salary as their rising stars continue to shine more brightly with each passing year. But then the Lady Tigers, led by Tomekia Reed, their inspirational coach, and by Ameshya Williams-Holliday, their star player who doubles as a wife and mother, nearly did the unthinkable. The best story of March blossomed. She was chosen as an All-State first-team selection. Amidst all the shade, the Tigers finished their season with a 18-6 record and a trip to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2008, where they faced Baylor in the first round. We're knocking on walls, you've accomplished some things that haven't been accomplished in this in this program, in this conference but now it's time to come back and knockthe walls down.". Reed plans on posting a social media message and putting it next to one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous quotes, and letting all athletes and HBCU athletes know their voice matters. Also to celebrate the life of African American leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., and the Civil Rights movements. 3 min read Jackson State women's basketball coach Tomekia Reed is not only a success on the basketball court, but she's a woman of deep conviction and emotions.. She cited personal reasons. The words of the LSU coach may sting to some JSU and HBCU supporters, but they are valid in the capitalistic society we live in. TOMEKIA REED: When I played basketball I was not the most talented, I was just an extremely hard worker. Reed, who is in her fifth season at JSU, has posted an 85-45 mark and 64-10 record in SWAC action, which includes tying the single-season wins record (23) last season, three consecutive. "We have to continue to knock on walls to get respect. Over three agonizing minutes of basketball, it fizzled out. When Jordan was hired by Tucker, he signed a two-year contract with an annual salary of $225,000. The announcement was made Monday. You go over there, you wont have an opportunity to play professional basketball. All rights reserved. During that time, the Lady Tigers claimed the SWAC regular-season championship (2007), made WNIT appearances in 2006 and 2007, and won the SWAC tournament championship in 2008, making it the program's fourth NCAA Tournament appearance. Her coaching career began in 04 at South Georgia Technical College, where she served as an assistant coach and recruiter for three seasons. She said she didn't know when it would happen, but after the recent death of her father, she's glad it. After graduating from Murrah, she began her collegiate basketball career at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. Thats why I am still single, Reed joked to the Clarion Ledger when asked about The Scowl. The youngest and only girl in a family of three brothers, Reed grew up as just one of the boys. A fancy building is not going to talk to you when youre sadI am and I will, and Im here for you. She won SWAC Player of the Year. Reed offers officials "The Scowl" a combination. Reeds emphasis this offseason has been to work on controlling her own as well as the team's emotions. Learn how your comment data is processed. But we got to jump on board, we got to get in that thing with them. Tomekia Reed always knew coaching at Jackson State was a goal she wanted to achieve. Jackson State has extended the contacts of women's basketball coach Tomekia Reed and men's basketball coachWayne Brent. How they taught her the importance of being proud of being Black and dressing well, along with other life lessons. So thats why Im excited about this team. We are doing the same thing other coaches are doing with less resources and sometimes a lot less talent. But, it's the exact opposite of the kind of respect Reed said she wanted to bring to Jackson State and HBCUs as a whole after the game. LSU coach Kim Mulkey spoke the truth on JSUs rising coaching star, HBCU Gameday x Protect Your Skull Player of the Year, Saturdays 83-77 win over the SWAC champions marked the second time in as many seasons as shes had to go through JSU. Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items. Reed, who'd recruited her out of high school, texted her, day after day; Williams her name at the time didn't respond.