Tomekia Reed 'Understands the Mission'

A "rejuvenated" Tomekia Reed understands the mission to return to the top of HBCU women's basketball in 2023-24.

HOUSTON – Coach Tomekia Reed may have kept a few receipts of the Jackson State Lady Tigers' critics following the losses to Southern and Memphis at the end of the 2022-23 season.  Then again, the first receipt she'll check, may be of her own.  

"This may sound weird, but I've changed over the last two or three years," Reed said.  It was a rare display of transparency shown by the coach.  "I've changed in the sense that I felt like now that I have better players, pro players.  I don't have to coach as hard.   I've tried to treat them as pros.  I wasn't aggressive.  I wasn't sticking to what I believed in – that's character's first, discipline's first.  We just had a good time, and every now and then, I kind of get on them a little bit.  I became complacent.  They became complacent.  Going into this next year, I've been so rejuvenated.  I want to improve my energy.  I'm just extremely happy for the place that God has me in.  I want to get back to doing it the right way."

Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports; Jackson State Athletics

Reed has four seasons of dominance leading the Jackson State women's basketball program.  While the accolades are many, last season's 21-10 overall record and 17-1 in the SWAC seemed a bit routine.  Although the wins were plenty, Reed's team occasionally showed lapses of focus, passion, and energy, quite unlike the previous three Jackson State teams.  However, she vows the 2023-24 version will be different.  

"I want to get back to doing it the right way," Reed cited.  "Not putting players on the floor because they are more talented.  But putting them on the floor because they work hard.  Because they understand the mission and what we're trying to do.  I got away from that."  It was a brutal yet edifying admission from a usually guarded and private head coach.

The Lady Tiger's impressive upset bid against LSU in a first-round classic contest during the 2022 NCAA Tournament catapulted Reed and JSU women's basketball program.  Comparatively, last year's encore received little fanfare after losing to Southern University on a buzzer beater in the 2023 SWAC semi-finals, 65-64.  To make matters worse, Memphis thwarted a Jackson State comeback to win 79-68 in the 2023 WNIT.  The season was lost.

Jackson State's Head Coach Tomekia Reed yells to her players during the WNIT first round game between Memphis and Jackson State in the Elma Roane Field House at the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tenn., on March 16, 2023.  Credit: © Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK

"I want to improve tremendously, a great deal.  Getting my energy back, focus back, and hunger back was what Southern did for me. Southern did that!" Reed exclaimed.  "The moment they won, we had been holding on to they did that. So I'm excited about improving in that area."  

Kim Mulkey's positive postgame commentary about Reed made her a hot item for coaching vacancies.  

"I go through five to six interviews. I've done it for the last two years. I would like to say it's just not my time.  Frankly, I want to say I'm happy at Jackson.   This is home.  We've done some great things." Reed noted, "I really feel like my job here at Jackson State is not done."

The mission is clear for Tomekia Reed and Jackson State.  I asked, "At the end of the 2023-24 season, the Jackson State Lady Tigers are going to be what? Reed shrewdly replied, "At the top!"

We shall see.