University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Former Southern Miss Player Joins Women's Basketball Staff
9/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Sept. 28, 2010
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss Women's Basketball Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis announced the hiring of Tomekia Reed as an assistant coach for the Lady Eagle program. This hiring is subject to approval by the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.
"I am so excited to have the opportunity to bring back one of our own," McNelis said. "Tomekia was a Lady Eagle and truly has a passion for Southern Miss. It is awesome to have people that can see our fine University and basketball program because they love it. I am blessed to have her join our staff and have a sincere interest in helping young women live their goals and dreams."
Reed, a former player during the 1999-2000 season, comes to Southern Miss after spending last season with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette women's basketball program as an assistant coach.
Prior to her Louisiana position, Reed coached three seasons at Jackson State. While there, she served as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator on the Tigers' staff. Reed also worked with the post players at JSU and served as the team's academic liaison. Other responsibilities included strength and conditioning liaison, player development, community service coordinator and summer basketball camp coordinator. She tutored the 2006-07 SWAC Player of the Year, Shelita Burns, and helped head coach Denise Taylor rebuild the JSU program into a perennial winner and contender for the Southwestern Athletic Conference title.
The Tigers won the SWAC regular season championship and made a WNIT appearance in 2006-07. The 2007-08 JSU squad captured the SWAC Tournament championship and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Reed, a native of Jackson, Miss., began her coaching career at South Georgia Technical College, where she served as assistant women's basketball coach for three seasons. She signed two of Georgia's top athletes and one of Mississippi's finest Dandy Dozen players.
Reed received an associate degree in sports medicine from Hinds Community College after transferring from Southern Miss following her freshman season. She then attended Georgia Southwestern State University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in exercise science.
A former player, Reed was named most valuable player, led the team in scoring and rebounding while at Hinds. She was second in scoring and first in rebounding in the conference. Reed was named MJCAA first-team All-American for her effort.
While at Southern Miss, Reed received the coach's award, was named most improved player and helped the team make it to the WNIT versus Georgia Tech in the 1999-2000 season.
At Georgia Southwestern, State she led the team in scoring and was named team most valuable player.
Reed is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and is the daughter of John and Cazinova Reed.
