Gators turn to Rhode Island’s Tammie Reiss to lead women’s basketball program
GAINESVILLE — Rhode Island’s Tammi Reiss will become Florida’s next women’s basketball coach to lead a program still chasing history. Gators athletic director Scott Stricklin’s third hire in the sport will replace Kelly Rae Finley , whose tenure ended with four consecutive 5-11 finishes in the SEC. Reiss will look to rebuild a program that remains the school’s only one never to win a conference championship.
Reiss arrives fresh off leading Rhode Island to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 30 years, completing one of the nation’s more notable rebuilds. When she took over in 2019, Rhode Island had just one winning season in 15 years. They eventually would post back-to-back program-record win totals, culminating in a 28-5 finish and the school’s first-ever Atlantic 10 Tournament title this past season.
A three-time All-American at Virginia who succeeded Cavaliers’ legend Dawn Staley at point guard, Reiss helped lead the school to three Final Fours and the 1991 national championship game before becoming the fifth overall pick in the 1997 WNBA Draft. Her coaching resumé includes stops at Virginia, San Diego State and Syracuse, where she helped guide the Orange to four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and develop Brittney Sykes and Alexis Peterson, who made the 2017 WNBA All-Rookie team. “Tammi Reiss is a proven winner and an outstanding leader whose experience as both a player and coach stood out throughout this process,” Stricklin said.
“Tammi has a genuine passion for the game and for developing young women. It was clear from the beginning how much she wanted the opportunity to lead the Florida Gators. ” Reiss said Florida’s resources, academics and SEC affiliation position her to build a championship-caliber program in Gainesville.
The Gators’ 12th women’s basketball coach inherits the weight of history and expectation to finally change it. “It’s a bit bittersweet to say goodbye to a place that you love so much,” she said. “Rhode Island gave me a shot when nobody else believed in me.