Former SGTC Lady Jets assistant basketball coach Tomekia Reed earning recognition as head coach at Charlotte 49ers

Staff Reports

Casper, Wyoming – Tomekia Reed, a former assistant women’s basketball coach at South Georgia Technical College, has made significant strides in her coaching career. In April 2024, Reed was named the ninth head women’s basketball coach for the UNC Charlotte 49ers. Recently, she reconnected with her roots by attending the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) 2025 Division I Women’s Basketball National Tournament in Casper, Wyoming, where the Lady Jets were competing.

Success at UNC Charlotte

Reed recently completed her first full season as head coach at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She guided the 49ers to the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament before falling to fourth-seeded Temple, 65-34.

Mike Hill, UNC Charlotte’s Director of Athletics, praised Reed’s leadership, calling her “a proven winner whose passion for developing young people through the game of basketball is inspiring. Her enthusiasm is contagious and will translate into even more success for her. She shares our vision for greatness, and we are ecstatic to have her lead our program.”

UNC Charlotte Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber echoed that sentiment, stating, “Tomekia Reed is one of the most talented young coaches in college basketball today. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence, both on and off the court.”

Returning to Her Roots

After the AAC Tournament, Reed traveled to Casper to recruit top NJCAA players at the national tournament. Among the games she attended was the South Georgia Technical College versus Hutchinson Community College matchup. Reed expressed her pride in the Lady Jets’ performance, noting the growth of the program since her time as an assistant coach.

“I tell everyone I got my coaching start at South Georgia Technical College,” Reed said. “I really enjoyed my time there as an assistant coach with head coach Brandon Harrell. We started that program from scratch in 2004, and look where it is now.”

During Reed’s first season at South Georgia Tech, the Lady Jets finished 8-23, but in the second year, they improved to 17-15. Today, the Lady Jets have made 11 appearances at the NJCAA National Tournament in their 20-year history.

A Proven Winner

Reed’s success as a head coach extends well beyond her time at South Georgia Tech. She has compiled an overall record of 136-75, including a 99-24 mark in conference play, with three consecutive seasons of 20 or more wins.

Before taking over at UNC Charlotte, Reed spent six successful seasons as head coach of the Jackson State University Tigers. She was named HBCU National Coach of the Year three times and guided JSU to five straight Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) regular-season titles and three tournament championships. In 2022, Reed made history as the only Black head coach in men’s and women’s NCAA Division I basketball to go undefeated in conference play.

Her tenure at Jackson State also included four SWAC Coach of the Year awards (2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024). Reed led JSU to its first regular-season title since 2008 and its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008 with the 2021 championship.

Building a Legacy

Before Jackson State, Reed coached at Hinds Community College, where her teams won 47 games over three seasons, including back-to-back winning seasons in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018. She also led Hinds CC to the NJCAA Region 23 title game in 2017.

As a college athlete, Reed played at Southern Mississippi, earning the Coach’s Award and Most Improved Player Award, and helped the team to a WNIT berth in 1999-2000. She then transferred to Hinds Community College, where she was named MVP and led the team in scoring and rebounding. Reed finished her playing career at Georgia Southwestern State University, where she again led in scoring and earned MVP honors.

Reed earned an associate degree in sports medicine from Hinds Community College in 2001 and a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Georgia Southwestern State University in 2003.

A Coach with Heart and Determination

A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Reed served as Jackson State’s women’s basketball recruiting coordinator from 2006-2009. During her tenure, the Lady Tigers won the SWAC regular-season championship and appeared in both the WNIT and NCAA Tournament. She also held assistant coaching roles at Southern Mississippi, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, and New Orleans, where she consistently served as a recruiting coordinator.

Reed’s journey from South Georgia Tech assistant to UNC Charlotte head coach is a testament to her dedication and passion for the game. As she continues to build her legacy at UNC Charlotte, her coaching roots remain firmly planted in the foundation she helped establish at South Georgia Technical College.