Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. The video made its way to Mulkey, who said it became bulletin board material, but the Lady Tigers didn't care. Neither had its conference, nor any No. 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. 3-seeded LSU in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament by ignoring it and managing the game . All rights reserved. 22.5k Followers, 2,973 Following, 848 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Tomekia Reed (@coachtomekiareed) coachtomekiareed. All great coaches have their signature way to work officials during a basketball game. Especially not early in the third quarter on Saturday in Baton Rouge, when third-seeded LSU and its national champion coach led by 17. 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. Nine years ago, I wrote a piece in the infancy of HBCU Gameday called A Good HBCU coach is Hard to Keep. It hasnt been as frequent as I thought it might be back then, but my money says Tomekia Reed will have plenty of options on the table. 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. She served as the top assistant, worked with post players, and served as the teams academic liaison. 2023 www.clarionledger.com. Earlier this month it announced another Jackson hometown hero coming in as head coach in former NBA champion Mo Williams. She's the one who has built this program.". Williams responded that day. I am extremely thankful and honored that President Thomas Hudson and Vice President and Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson saw fit for me to remain at the helm of the JSU womens basketball program, Reed said. Williams was also named Defensive Player of the Year. Reed believes we are on the right track, and if King were alive today, he would be fairly impressed and happy with where African Americans are positioned today, compared to his liftetime. Our conference. The announcement was made Monday. I just wanted to put it out there, I had no idea it was going to reach as many people as it did. She'd decided she was done with hoops, with college. 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. The site navigation utilizes arrow, enter, escape, and space bar key commands. After graduating from Murrah, she began her collegiate basketball career at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. She has guided JSU to four consecutive berths in the SWAC Tournament semifinals, three straight berths in the conference tournament finals, three straight SWAC regular-season titles, and two straight SWAC tournament titles and NCAA appearances. Off the court, she is classy and elegant. Feb 4, 2023 8:45 AM EST. Develop Your Personal Mission Statement & Compelling Vision. The SWAC honored Reed as the Coach of the Year after. Over three agonizing minutes of basketball, it fizzled out. She has guided JSU to four consecutive berths in the SWAC Tournament semifinals (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022), three straight berths in the conference tournament finals (2019, 2021, 2022 after 2020 tournament canceled), three straight SWAC regular season titles (2020, 2021, 2022), and two straight SWAC tournament titles and NCAA appearances (2021, 2022). SLAMhas partnered with theBlack Coaches Associationon a content series that will spotlight Black coaches from every level. During that time, the Lady Tigers claimed the SWAC regular-season championship and made a WNIT appearance in 2006-07. An anxious Jackson State women's basketball coach Tomekia Reed tried to steal a victory over No. $300,000.00. Her coaching career began in 04 at South Georgia Technical College, where she served as an assistant coach and recruiter for three seasons. And I think that afforded me the opportunity to play four years on a scholarship. Jackson State head coach Tomekia Reed was already an accomplished head coach before LSU's Kim Mulkey gave her what some felt was a back-handed comment after nearly beating her squad this March. Brent has led Jackson State to a 21-18 record in conference play the past two seasons. 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. But I did the dirty work and I think all of that translates to who I am today. 848 posts. But lets also shine a light on other sports and what other people are doing. Also to celebrate the life of African American leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., and the Civil Rights movements. And, she very well may endup coaching elsewhere. And then, in 2019, with childcare support from her mother and grandmother, Williams, along with Reed, set out to build the Lady Tigers into one of the best mid-major programs in women's basketball. And we're gonna keep knocking until the respect is there., 662 S. President Street, Jackson, MS 39201662 S. President Street, Jackson, MS 39201. ", "She has grown tremendously," Reed said. 5 min read. 1 ranked recruiting classes in the state of Mississippi in both 2010 and 2011. Reed moved to Jackson State as the head coach in 2018 following a successful three-year stint as coach of the Hinds Community College women's basketball team. 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. In an interview, Sanders spoke about how quarterbacks need to have a 3.5 GPA or higher. Reed began her coaching career at South Georgia Technical College, where she served as assistant womens basketball coach for three seasons. Yet back in mid-August, the Jackson State womens head coach tweeted out her frustrations with how Black female coaches are constantly overlooked. 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. Always that one that was helping and I put my hands in everything and thats who I am as a head coach right now. 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. I took jobs all over the place at predominately white institutions, and the Lord afforded me an opportunity to come back. But the message she gave to her team after they came closer than any other JSU team to advancing in the NCAA Tournament was to fight for HBCU culture, not run away from it. She developed into a WNBA prospect. Another strong statement. Learn how your comment data is processed. Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. A native of Jackson, Miss., Reed was Jackson States womens basketball recruiting coordinator from 2006-2009. And of course, you know, Jackson, Mississippi is my hometown. Yes, there are schools out there with the ability to pay Reed more who might be interested in hiring her away from JSU. Under terms of that contract, he wouldn't owe a buyout for leaving Michigan State at this time. So do the financial disparities. Its always bringing us down when were doing the exact same thing that the other schools are doing with limited resources and thats what I put in the tweet. "Coach Reed has done a tremendous job and has elevated the program in her two short years on the job," Robinson said. Tomekia Reed, a native of Jackson, is a longtime coach with a successful career at the junior college and university levels. By HBCU Gameday Newswire Posted on July 17, 2020 JACKSON, Miss. They earned plenty of it Saturday, even if they didn't quite earn history. To learn more about the past and present of the BCA, and to register as a member of the BCA, clickhere. Tomekia Reed earns an extension after leading Jackson State to a regular season title. Lee made a deep 3-pointer and the basket went viral and the moment brought Jackson State its first ESPY in school history. TR: Coming here to Jackson State as an assistant coach, it was a great experience. 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. 2,973 following. Im doing film, Im cleaning, Im mopping the floor, Im sweeping the floor, Im washing uniforms, I do it all, on top of game strategizing, on top of recruiting. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Reed offers officials "The Scowl" a combination. 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. "We have to continue to knock on walls to get respect. The upset of LSU was the storybook ending, the tale that would have overtaken the tournament. Jackson State extended Reed back in 2020 as she quickly put the program from the SWAC cellar to among its elite. Coach Reed has done a tremendous job and has elevated the program in her two short years on the job, Robinson said. Other responsibilities included strength and conditioning liaison, player development, community service coordinator, and summer basketball camp coordinator. Left and right arrows move across top level links and expand / close menus in sub levels. I think one of the reasons why we are so not valued and disrespected is because of the resources. When were going against Power Five institutions, or even high mid-majors or mid-majors, they always down us for what we dont have. Georgia Southwestern State University Coach Tomekia Reed is a native of Jackson, Mississippi, and a 1999 graduate of Murrah High School. Khayla Pointer broke a tie with 49 seconds to go, with her 24th, 25th and 26th points of the game. ", More:Jackson State football will play in 2021 Orange Blossom Classic in Miami, More:Jackson State men's basketball manager 'Snacks' wins ESPY. https://gojsutigers.com/news/2020/7/17/womens-basketball-reed-signs-four-year-contract-extension.aspx. Keeping Reed and Sanders will become his priority. 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? Thats why I am still single, Reed joked to the Clarion Ledger when asked about The Scowl. During its 27 NCAA Tournament appearances, LSU (26-5) has only. We're knocking on walls. But that wasnt all.I dont know if you want me to tell you the second part of that because yall all Jackson State people, the LSU coach said. Copyright 2023, Jackson State University Athletics. "We're going to keep knocking until the respect is there. She was chosen as an All-State first-team selection. She told reporters that in her post-game conversation I respect the job shes done and that shes a heck of her coach, and her kids played their hearts out. 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. The best story of March blossomed. There was Williams-Holliday, a once-prized recruit who'd left Mississippi State in 2017 and fallen off the basketball map. But it is obvious that Reed's star is on the rise, and true to Mulkey's words, her pay will have to rise as well. After graduating from Murrah, she began her collegiate basketball career at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. At Southern Miss, Reed also assisted in signing the 42nd-ranked recruiting class in the country (No. Now, she tries to pass on the teachings of her parents to her young son, Carlon. After nearly upsetting LSU in a first-round NCAA Tournament game on March 19, 2022, Coach Reed was asked what her message to her team was following the tough loss: "Honestly, my message after today's game was, we have to continue to fight for our institution. 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. She earned an associates degree in sports medicine from Hinds in 2001 and a bachelors in exercise science from Georgia Southwestern in 2003. She'd envisioned the scene in the locker room, taking her LSU jersey off for the final time, tears soaking everything. Texas would defeat JSU 75-58 on Dec. 14 at the Mississippi Coliseum. So I just got to a point where I couldnt keep sitting on it. It hadn't materialized, but it's the scene Jackson State had envisioned too, the scenario that would have made them March darlings. Reed led Hinds CC to the NJCAA Region 23 title game in 2017. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a celebration of the civil-rights icon's life, but it's also one of remembering her late mother, Edith Mae Reed, whose birthday is was on that day. "Honestly, my message after today's game waswe have to continue to fight for our institution, our conference, we have to continue to fight for our culture," Reed said. Follow them on Twitter@BCAWORLDWIDE. I have my hands in everything. Thirty minutes later, Reed says, Williams sent back a picture of a pregnancy test. Jackson State is turning to a Jackson native to lead its women's basketball program. A raucous crowd at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center fell silent. We have to fight for our conference, Reed said. 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. Its something I prayed for. Jackson State University head women's basketball coach Tomekia Reed gives insight on what it's like coaching at an HBCU in recent tweets. 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. $290,000.00. Jackson State women's basketball coach Tomekia Reed commented about the true commitment it takes to navigate within the framework of the unique environment. I want to help you get through this. You don't have to run, we'll figure that out, Reed told her. Lopsided games, such as South Carolina's 79-21 first-round win over Howard, make it easy to see why some view HBCU coaching jobs as a stepping stone to get to other positions. They're still ongoing. Jackson State had never won a March Madness game. "As a young lady, as a woman, as a wife, as a mother. Reed knows that Black people have created immense progress, as a culture, community and country, but she believes that America has a long way to go. 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. Dps-State Medical Examiner. All rights reserved. But we got to jump on board, we got to get in that thing with them. The other technical hurt, though, as JSU would lose 83-78. LSU's Kim Mulkey has a running diatribe with the referees. She was just an adult who cared about a struggling young woman. One-hundred and eleven had tried. It was not until Reed received a technical foul that JSU responded with a 10-2 run of its own. 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. TR: For me, its just really important to stay classy, stay professional, be a model and just to show we can do this. In four seasons as head coach, Tomekia Reed has led Jackson State University women's basketball to the top of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. I one day want the messages that I speak to be remembered and carried on throughout life as a legacy as Martin Luther King., TOMEKIA REED MEETS EMMITT SMITHJackson State women's basketball coach Tomekia Reed meets Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith. SLAM: What about your latest class has you most excited for this upcoming season? She helped lead the program to a WNIT appearance before transferring to Hinds Community College for the 2000-2001 season. Jackson State University Apply Now! SLAM: What are the goals you have for yourself and for the team this upcoming season? SLAM: As a Jackson, Miss., native and a former assistant coach for the program, how has this journey come full circle for you after winning the SWAC championship the past two seasons? Named Jackson State University head coach in 2018, Reed joined JSU following a successful three-year stint as coach of the Hinds Community College womens basketball team. Jackson State womens basketball coach Tomekia Reed is not only a success on the basketball court, but she's a woman of deep conviction and emotions. #RiseTheUnderdog, You know, that was something Ive been feeling for a very long time, Reed says over a Zoom call in August. The No. "Even though this is her last game for Jackson State University," Reed said of Williams-Holliday, "she is gonna continue to open the door for our conference, for our institution, for our HBCU community. 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. During its 27 NCAA Tournament appearances, LSU (26-5) has only been seeded lower than No. TR: Recruiting. It turned a close game into a 15-3 run by Texas. And most of the end? Jackson State lost to Prairie View 69-65 at the William Nicks Building on Saturday. Reed comes to JSU after a successful three-year stint at Hinds Community College. . We have to fight for our institution. Months later, Reed got the Jackson State job. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A familiar face will head the Jackson State women's basketball program as Tomekia Reed has been selected as the new head coach for Lady Tigers. She replaced Micheryln Smith, who previously served the college in the same role for eight seasons from 2007-2008 to 2014-2015. Nobody will ever take that away from me. Jackson State women's basketball coach Tomekia Reed coaches the game with passion and attitude. They stormed back from down 47-30 to take a stunning 10-point lead. LSU coach Kim Mulkey said Tomekia Reed wont be at Jackson State long if they dont pay her. She led the program to its first SWAC regular-season championship in over 10 years and has set the foundation for continued success.
