I want him to be cognizant of the way he uses his voice and the words he uses to express his thoughts and opinions., MO WILLIAMS TALKS ABOUT M.L. However, during the early stages of her tenure, there were moments when the direction of the program wasn't always clear. 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. Her coaching career began in 04 at South Georgia Technical College, where she served as an assistant coach and recruiter for three seasons. Jackson State extended Reed back in 2020 as she quickly put the program from the SWAC cellar to among its elite. Reed, a Murrah alumna, has spent. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Before becoming the head coach, Reed was Jackson States womens basketball recruiting coordinator from 2006-2009. 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. And we're gonna keep knocking until the respect is there., 662 S. President Street, Jackson, MS 39201662 S. President Street, Jackson, MS 39201. 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. The Lady Tigers won 21 straight. 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. Off the court, she is classy and elegant. Re-Engaging in Education for All to Progress, 662 S. President Street, Jackson, MS 39201, Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). On Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, not only will her Lady Tigers play at Texas Southern, but she will carry a heavy heart into the game. She helped lead the program to a WNIT appearance before transferring to Hinds Community College for the 2000-2001 season. Often, her feelings lay bare in front of fans, friends, and player. WHERE YOU WANT TO GO. She reached out to Williams, "begging her to come play." Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Forensics Laboratory. 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. 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. 14 seed for Jackson State (23-7) is the program's highest since 1983 when there were only 36 teams. It turned a close game into a 15-3 run by Texas. SLAM: What are the goals you have for yourself and for the team this upcoming season? You'll see a change, and we're going to keep working. Months later, Reed got the Jackson State job. The late Pat Summitt had the stare arms crossed as she would glare at a referee. Monday could bring a litany of thoughts, looking back at early mornings of being together with her mom as they prepared Thanksgiving dinners. Neither had its conference, nor any No. 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. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. 22.5K followers. Football is always respected. 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. "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. Identify Target Roles. LSU coach Kim Mulkey said Tomekia Reed wont be at Jackson State long if they dont pay her. Yeah, football is doing a great job. 3-seeded LSU in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament by ignoring it and managing the game . 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. Learn more about the BCAhere. 9 once. "I hope that it's giving them a sense of pride that we can do it. Reed knows what it takes to lead a program to success, both as a player and a coach. ", "She has grown tremendously," Reed said. In a cauldron of noise and intensity, LSU responded with an 11-0 run of its own. Follow them on Twitter@BCAWORLDWIDE. TR: Recruiting. At Southern Miss, Reed also assisted in signing the 42nd-ranked recruiting class in the country (No. I too one day, Reed said. Jackson State pays its football coach Deion Sanders less than a fifth of that. 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 Tigers' athletic department described his extension as a "multi-year" deal. Jackson State University head women's basketball coach Tomekia Reed gives insight on what it's like coaching at an HBCU in recent tweets. 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. Thats why I am still single, Reed joked to the Clarion Ledger when asked about The Scowl. She signed two of Georgias top athletes and one of Mississippis finest Dandy Dozen players. Texas would defeat JSU 75-58 on Dec. 14 at the Mississippi Coliseum. 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? Georgia Southwestern State University Coach Tomekia Reed is a native of Jackson, Mississippi, and a 1999 graduate of Murrah High School. She said she didn't like to run. Reeds emphasis this offseason has been to work on controlling her own as well as the team's emotions. LSU's Kim Mulkey has a running diatribe with the referees. "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 women's basketball program," Reed said in a school release Friday. 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. During its 27 NCAA Tournament appearances, LSU (26-5) has only. During that time, the Lady Tigers claimed the SWAC regular-season championship and made a WNIT appearance in 2006-07. "We're knocking on walls," Reed continued. "Coach Reed has done a tremendous job and has elevated the program in her two short years on the job," Robinson said. 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. Yet back in mid-August, the Jackson State womens head coach tweeted out her frustrations with how Black female coaches are constantly overlooked. Williams was also named Defensive Player of the Year. Coach Reed has done a tremendous job and has elevated the program in her two short years on the job, Robinson said. This year's mark of 23 wins is the highest in program history, including a historic 18-0 record in SWAC play, surpassing a program-best 16 wins in 2020. 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. Turner Staci Ann. Jackson State women's basketball coach Tomekia Reed coaches the game with passion and attitude. The other technical hurt, though, as JSU would lose 83-78. 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. 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? Reed offers officials "The Scowl" a combination. But it is obvious that Reeds star is on the rise, and true to Mulkeys words, her pay will have to rise as well. We're going to keep knocking until we get the same as other institutions," Reed said. https://gojsutigers.com/news/2020/7/17/womens-basketball-reed-signs-four-year-contract-extension.aspx. They began corresponding regularly. Mulkey's point is that Reed is good enough to coach at a school with more resources. Reed led Hinds CC to the NJCAA Region 23 title game in 2017. 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. Williams responded that day. Mackenzie talks with junior Lady Tigers guard Dayzsha Rogan to get to know what her pregame rituals are, her favorite music, and more. Often, her feelings lay bare in front. 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. Follow. SLAM: As a former hooper, was there a specific moment that paved the way for a career in coaching? After graduating from Murrah, she began her collegiate basketball career at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. And I think that afforded me the opportunity to play four years on a scholarship. Reed offers officials "The Scowl" a combination of an attitude, with her hands on her hips, lips pouted out, a shake of the head, and a talk-to-the-hand posture she has perfected. There was Williams-Holliday, a once-prized recruit who'd left Mississippi State in 2017 and fallen off the basketball map. Brent has led Jackson State to a 21-18 record in conference play the past two seasons. How a regret in NCAA Tournament near upset of LSU changed Jackson State women's basketball, Jackson State women's basketball coach Tomekia Reed balances sport, Christmas for her son, Why Kim Mulkey saying Tomekia Reed won't be at Jackson State long isn't the compliment she thinks it is, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. In four seasons as head coach, Tomekia Reed has led Jackson State University women's basketball to the top of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Him and I talk all the time, we meet all the time. Reed's extension is four years. While many people took Mulkey's commentary as subversive, Reed told Ralph Cooper of KCOH Radio that she didn't see it that way at all. Six months after that, she gave birth to her son, Jace. We. "She led the program to its first SWAC regular-season championship in over 10 years and has set the foundation for continued success. The U.S. Census Bureau tracks median household income up to $250,000. 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. LSU'S KIM MULKEY SAID PAY TOMEKIA REEDWhy Kim Mulkey saying Tomekia Reed won't be at Jackson State long isn't the compliment she thinks it is. 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. Jackson State womens basketball coach Tomekia Reed coaches the game with passion and attitude. And nobody, not a soul outside Jackson, Mississippi, expected the 112th to succeed. I want my son, Carlon Reed, to understand his life is valuable, Reed said. It drew laughs from people in the media room in Baton Rouge after LSU's 83-77 win. 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. But still we are walked over and thought less of. If you can reach 100,000 people with a tweet or with a post, thats phenomenal, and it helps us in so many ways. After transferring to Georgia Southwestern State University, Reed continued her athletic dominance, this time leading the team in scoring and ultimately named team MVP. Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. The school introduced Tomekia Reed as its new head coach on Monday. NAME, HT, YRPPGRPG C Maya Peat, 6-6, Jr.9.46.2 F Maori Davenport, 6-5, Jr.9.16.5 G Coriah Beck, 5-11,. You go over there, you wont have an opportunity to play professional basketball. Saturday's game was a prime example of where she can take a program. 1 ranked recruiting classes in the state of Mississippi in both 2010 and 2011. Reed began her coaching career at South Georgia Technical College, where she served as assistant womens basketball coach for three seasons. TOMEKIA REED: When I played basketball I was not the most talented, I was just an extremely hard worker. We have to continue to knock on walls to get respect. At JSU, she also worked as an academic liaison and assistant coach, focusing primarily on the post players. In making the program's second straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and the first as a #14 seed, Jackson State led in the fourth quarter in nearly achieving an historic tournament win over #3 LSU. Theres an undeniable truth behind the words spoken by Jackson States womens basketball head coach, Tomekia Reed. She led the program to its first SWAC regular-season championship in over 10 years and has set the foundation for continued success. They stormed back from down 47-30 to take a stunning 10-point lead. I havent called yet, but Im certainly going to call because I want to know, why are we looked at as less than? But now its time to bring the respect [and] acknowledge that, hey, this is a good institution. Our conference. I want to help you get through this. The No. - Jackson State University is pleased to announce a four-year contract extension for head women's basketball coach Tomekia Reed. 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. A raucous crowd at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center fell silent. The turning point? SLAM: While youre surrounded by Black peers at the coaching level in the SWAC, how do you juggle the responsibilities and influence you carry as a Black woman in this space? Reed had screamed when brackets were released. Ricky Rubio Feels Back to Normal After Comeback Game, Stephen Curry on His Return to Play and Regaining His Rhythm, REPORT: Miami Interested in Buying Out Jae Crowder, Drexel Guard Keishana Washington is One of the Coldest Scorers in the CountryAnd Shes Just Getting Started, How the NBA G League is at the Forefront of Basketball Innovation, from Player Development to Testing New Rules, Frank Jackson on His NBA Journey, Proving Himself and Getting to Play for the City He Calls Home, How Eric Singletary and Tamika Dudley Are Building a Powerful Hoops Culture At Sidwell Friends, Otis Hughley Jr is Ready to Carry on Alabama A&Ms Legacy as Head Coach, Stony Brook HC Ashley Langford is Building a Successful Program and Empowering Players for Life After Ball. All rights reserved. She'd decided she was done with hoops, with college. TR: For me, I gave a four-year plan when I took this job at Jackson State. 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. When were going against Power Five institutions, or even high mid-majors or mid-majors, they always down us for what we dont have. 5 min read. Jackson State extended Reed back in 2020 as she quickly put the program from the SWAC cellar to among its elite. Also to celebrate the life of African American leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., and the Civil Rights movements. To her mother taking her to practice and games, or just laughing. She'd envisioned the scene in the locker room, taking her LSU jersey off for the final time, tears soaking everything. 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 perennial Southwestern Athletic Conference power emerged. Hopefully, shell stick around and make JSU into the powerhouse program that it can be but the price will have to be right. SLAM: What were the feelings and emotions you had that led to your tweet back in August? Be an encouragement, be some type of empowerment for our coaches, our conference, our players. Jackson State has extended the contacts of women's basketball coach Tomekia Reed and men's basketball coachWayne Brent. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. All had failed. I was extremely smart. Save on iPhone 14 Pro and more Apple products. Tomekia Reed earns an extension after leading Jackson State to a regular season title. She replaced Micheryln Smith, who previously served the college in the same role for eight seasons from 2007-2008 to 2014-2015. But we got to jump on board, we got to get in that thing with them. 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. Copyright 2023, Jackson State University Athletics. The coaching staff films practices and games, and will go over the team's negative emotional plays. "That fueled us," Crump said. its time to come back and knock the walls down.. 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. There was Reed, stalking the sidelines as the architect, the personable and empathetic recruiter, who'd taken the job in 2018 with no prior Division I head-coaching experience. I always wanted to come back as the head coach. 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. Jackson State University is pleased to announce a four-year contract extension for head womens basketball coach Tomekia Reed. That should not change who you are, and how you carry yourself. Tomekia Reed is a hot commodity as a speaker, leader, and head coach. Reed began her collegiate playing career at Southern Miss, helping lead the program to a WNIT appearance before transferring to Hinds CC for the 2000-2001 season. And of course, you know, Jackson, Mississippi is my hometown. As black female coaches in a HBCU environment we are the most slept on and the most disrespected ever. "I am thankful for AD Robinson's commitment to our program and we will have several more outstanding seasons to come.". Up and Down arrows will open main level menus and toggle through sub tier links. Tomekia Reed, a native of Jackson, is a longtime coach with a successful career at the junior college and university levels. 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. So do the financial disparities. And most of the end? 0:00 0:20 Jackson State has extended the contacts of women's basketball coach Tomekia Reed and men's basketball coach Wayne Brent. They're still ongoing. 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. I took jobs all over the place at predominately white institutions, and the Lord afforded me an opportunity to come back. Copyright 2023 SLAM Media Inc. SLAM, SLAMTV, SLAM MEDIA and the SLAM logo are registered 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. trademarks of Slam Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. 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. The SWAC honored Reed as the Coach of the Year after leading the Tigers to the regular-season conference title. Off the court, she is classy and elegant. History beckoned. 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. Earlier this month it announced another Jackson hometown hero coming in as head coach in former NBA champion Mo Williams. Tomekia Reed and her intimidating scowl were on full display during the HBCU GO broadcast with legendary Charlie Neal calling the play-by-play, as the Lady Tigers rebounded from Saturday's. One-hundred and eleven had tried. Jackson State University Apply Now! 3 seed escaped. 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. A fancy building is not going to pick you up out of your dorm and take you to the emergency room. 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. "I'm glad he called it," she later said of the ref. The video made its way to Mulkey, who said it became bulletin board material, but the Lady Tigers didn't care. So thats why Im excited about this team. 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. Reed comes to Jackson State following a successful three-year stint as coach of the Hinds Community College women's basketball team. "We're going to keep knocking until the respect is there. We have to continue to fight for our culture. They cant even take charter flights anywhere. TR: For me, its just really important to stay classy, stay professional, be a model and just to show we can do this. That look has earned her more technical fouls than any words she has spoken to an official during a game. 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. . Ive always been someone who cared dearly about everybody; players, coaches, managers. 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. She thinks back to seeing MLK's famous moments and seeing his speeches and what he believed in and for the reality for Black people to be living in it right now, and the feeling is great. 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. She was chosen as an All-State first-team selection. Learn how your comment data is processed. She was just an adult who cared about a struggling young woman. And so I said, you know what, Im gonna go for it.. Keeping Reed and Sanders will become his priority. He is bringing more respect to the HBCU community, I will say that.