Charlotte 49ers hire Tomekia Reed as women's hoops coach

JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY

Tomekia Reed, who coached Jackson State to three SWAC titles in six seasons as women's basketball coach, is Charlotte's new women's coach.

Tomekia Reed, who coached Jackson State to unprecedented heights in women’s basketball, will try to duplicate those feats at Charlotte.

Reed, a three-time HBCU National Coach of the Year, took the Tigers to five straight SWAC regular season titles and three tournament titles in six seasons, including back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022. She is a four-time SWAC Coach of The Year (2020, 2022, 2023, 2024) and paced the Tigers to a school-record 26 wins, including 18-0 in conference games.

“I could not be more thrilled to become a Niner,” said Reed, who succeeds Cara Consuegera, who went to Marquette. “I am inspired and excited to continue the standard of excellence that is this women’s basketball program. [Athletics director] Mike, Ragean Hill, Chancellor [Sharon] Gaber, and the entire athletic department family made me feel welcome. Their enthusiasm and competitiveness are contagious.

“This leadership’s strategic comprehensive plan aligns with my standards and plans for sustained success at the highest level. I am more motivated than ever to capitalize on the opportunity at hand in leading a winning team for both our student-athletes and the great city of Charlotte.”

Reed has been a rising star in the coaching ranks the last couple of years and mentioned as a candidate for jobs at several high-profile programs, including Tennessee and Tulane in addition to Jackson State, which was looking to extend her contract, which expired at the end of the 2023-24 season. Reed’s success at JSU was reflected in the Tigers’ seeding in the NCAA Tournament. In 2022, JSU earned a 14 seed for the first time in school history, and they led No. 3 LSU in the fourth quarter before losing. In 2024, the Tigers again earned a 14th seed, where they lost to Connecticut.

"Tomekia Reed is a proven winner whose passion for developing young people through the game of basketball is inspiring," Hill said in a statement. "Her enthusiasm is contagious and will translate into even more success for her on the recruiting trail and in the community. She shares our vision for greatness, and we are ecstatic to have her lead our program."  

Said Gaber: “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.”

Reed has developed players who’ve graduated to the professional ranks. Two Tigers were drafted by WNBA teams: Ameshya Williams-Holliday (2022, Indiana) and Angel Jackson (2024, Las Vegas Aces).

Reed is 125-54 as a coach, including a 95-10 in conference games and three straight 20-win seasons at Jackson State, where the Tigers’ conference winning percentage of 95.4% is the fourth best in Division I over the the last five seasons.

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