Tomekia Reed: Reclaiming The Jackson State Mystique and Dominance
HOUSTON — Tomekia Reed loves the Blues. Perhaps, just as much as she loves giving the blues to her opponents and critics. It's a little-known fact about the girl from Jackson, Mississippi, yet it connects with her soul.
"Oh, man, I love the blues, I do," Reed reminisced. "Oh yes! I grew up on blues with my mom and with my dad. Dad lived in Chicago for some time. And he was a two-stepper — I grew up on that type of music. But I also love gospel." She stays current with the young ladies listening to trap music "to get excited and pumped up," but "I love gospel music, and I love the blues," Reed said.
REED: GETTING HER MOJO WORKIN'
Reed built a 78-37 (67.8%) winning record in four seasons at Jackson State. Her passion, focus, energy, and commitment to excellence were necessary to connect with her young Lady Tigers' squad. The winning began to mold the team with the mystique of being a dominant force in the SWAC. Although her first three seasons were special, season four was different.
Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports; Jackson State Athletics
The legendary blues singer Muddy Waters' lyrics described Season 4: "Got my mojo working, but it just won't work on you." Muddy Waters, Blues Legend.
Although the Lady Tigers were 17-1 in the SWAC during the regular season, 5.4 seconds between them, capturing their third-straight SWAC Tournament title. Southern threw up the last-second dagger. And just like that, the mojo was gone.
"I want to improve tremendously, a great deal. In getting my energy back. In getting my focus back and getting my hunger back. Well, Southern did that for me. Southern did that," Reed said.
REED: BATTLING THE HEAVYWEIGHTS IN DIVISION I
Currently, The Lady Tigers will lean on Reed's leadership to guide them through the murky and unfamiliar territory in the upcoming season.
They will have bouts with Division I heavyweights. "My schedule was done a little differently this year. We've always started on the road against a Power 5 as their season opener. I mean, those were tough games to win. We're going to start at home with a couple of Division I's, and NAIA schools. Just to start off like that, to get the gel going, the chemistry going. Start off on a good note, instead of a lot o traveling and not having our legs under us."
Athletic Director Ashley Robinson and the coach worked on scheduling Top-25 programs from Texas, Mississippi State, Oregon State, and Miami. "Miami, that's what? An Elite Eight. We have a really, really tough schedule, but I wouldn't want it any differently. I think that the tough schedule really prepares us going into our conference play."
REED: LEARNING FROM DEION SANDERS
One former Jackson State head football coach, Deion Sanders, wasn't a fan of his team facing D1 programs. Reed said she learned from his camaraderie and coaching philosophy.
"Coach Prime taught me how to know my worth. He taught me how to walk in my value. So often, I put my head down, and I keep my head down. I just work, I just work, I just work, and I don't celebrate what has been done. And I don't. Sometimes when you do that, you don't realize how valuable you are, how much work you bring to the table, and how phenomenal you are. A lot of times, hard workers just don't get a chance to see that and celebrate that. Well, he taught me how to walk in that."
REED: THE IMPORTANCE OF A FATHER
John Reed was the most important male figure in Tomekia Reed's life. She lost him on Aug. 28, 2018. He never had the chance to see her coach at Jackson State. It was a tremendous blow to the Reed family, especially for her son Carlon, who loved spending time with his grandfather.
"Fathers are so important to families, period," Reed lamented. "But they are very, very important to daughters. Because it's your father, that's the first man your daughter's introduced to. That's the first man your daughter ever formulates any type of real love for. My mom, Cazinova Reed, passed when I was in high school, so my dad taught me how to become a woman. How to be ladylike. People always talk about moms who are single parents. They always say a mom can't raise a boy. Well, my daddy raised me. My daddy taught me how to be feminine...when she passed, my dad got me really into my feminine side...and showered me with a lot of love."
Jackson State's women's basketball head coach Tomekia Reed stands on the sideline against Texas Tech n a preseason WNIT game, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, at United Supermarkets Arena. Credit:© Annie Rice/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
Growing up with three brothers, Reed described her younger self as a "major tomboy." It's the same Coach Tomekia Reed, who elegantly styles Gucci and Chanel on the sidelines, shared she wore "Girbaud jeans, the big t-shirts, the crease down my jeans." Her father was a minister who would tell her, "Ladies, don't talk like that; he was always on me about being ladylike."
While John Reed would demand she display a softer side, he also instilled strength and determination into his daughter. "We have a great foundation in The Word and Christ, our faith, and our belief. He was amazing. He actually raised my son before he passed away. My dad he's my foundation. He's my everything. To this day...I'm still operating out of those principles, mantras and out of what he taught us. He taught me how to be tough. He taught me strong. He taught me how to own my space and to demand the room I'm in. He taught me that it's okay to be great."
REED: A LOOK AHEAD
Going into the 2023-24 season, Reed must be tough and more determined than ever. In her tenure, the Lady Tigers had two NCAA Tournament trips and last season's disappointing loss in the WNIT to Memphis. As a coach and leader, it's a pivotal year for Tomekia Reed. Expectations still are high. Critics will take their shots because that's what naysayers do. "My dad said, if they're not talking about you, you aren't doing something right," Reed cited.
It will be a season for Reed to put aside last season's "complacency," install her new system, and regain the dominance Jackson State held in HBCU women's basketball.
Hopefully, by the end of next season, she won't be singing the blues, but releasing a new song of praise for herself and the Lady Tigers.