Tammi Reiss opened by thanking a wide range of influences, from University of Florida interim president Dr. Donald Landry to her sixth-grade teacher, setting the tone for a coach who views relationships as the foundation of success. The lengthy gratitude underscored her belief that connection drives the sport and the program she hopes to build.
That philosophy is part of what drew her to Florida.
Athletic director Scott Stricklin described Reiss as “a proven winner” and “an experienced leader who can elevate this program in the SEC and on the national stage.”
He added that she is “someone who builds culture, develops players and recruits at an elite level.” Stricklin emphasized that Florida’s investment in the women’s basketball program is at an all-time high, signaling a strong commitment to building a contender.
Men’s basketball head coach Todd Golden was among those in attendance, a visible sign of the athletic department’s unified support. After the press conference, Golden and Reiss embraced and posed for photos, underscoring that connection.
“I would not have taken this job if I didn’t believe in the commitment from the administration,” Reiss said.
And she embraces the expectations that come with the position head-on.
Earlier in her career, Reiss played at the University of Virginia, where she was an All-American and helped lead the program to ACC championships and Final Four appearances.
She later became a top-five pick in the first WNBA draft and spent time as a coach at Rhode Island, transforming that program into a championship contender. That experience shaped her philosophy and prepared her for the challenges of the SEC.
“I want to compete against the best, and the SEC is the best,” she said. “It is simply the best in women’s basketball.”
Her decision to come to Florida, she explained, was rooted in that competitive environment.
“Now I’m in an environment of champions,” Reiss said. “That’s why I chose the University of Florida.”
Much of the New York native’s identity as a coach traces back to the people she credited early in her remarks, especially her sixth-grade teacher, known as Mr. T.
“He taught me work ethic, goal setting, character, integrity… and to dream big,” Reiss said.
She shared a story of meeting him while playing basketball after school, where he first corrected her shooting form. Later, he ensured she was placed in his class and immediately challenged her.
On the first day, he took the basketball she carried everywhere and locked it away, telling her she wouldn’t get it back until she earned straight A’s. By the end of the first grading period, she had done exactly that.
From there, the lessons only intensified. He trained her after school, didn’t allow her to score for a full year and, as she joked, “broke [her] nose three times.”
That message of dedication and tireless effort stuck with her. And that same mindset has been reinforced throughout her career, including by mentor and close friend South Carolina head women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley.
“I only take advice from people that are really, really successful,” she said.
Reiss’ plan for the program centers on energy, development and sustained success. She vowed to bring high energy, fierce competition, passion, compassion and great leadership to the program.
“We will be committed to winning championships on the court, in the classroom and in the community," she said.
Reiss didn’t just speak in generalities; she made her expectations personal.
During the press conference, she locked eyes with players in the room, including sophomore guard Liv McGill and junior forward Jade Weathersby, delivering a message about buy-in.
“I want people that want to be here for so many more reasons than just basketball,” she said. “It is my job to build that relationship as quickly as possible, to see, do you trust me? Can you believe in the new vision?”
She didn’t shy away from the challenge ahead.
“This is the culture, and it’s a tough culture,” Reiss said. “Do you want to be a part of that?”
The question put a spotlight on the elephant in the room: the uncertainty surrounding the roster. With the transfer portal opening April 6, Reiss comes in unsure which players might stay and which could explore the transfer portal.
She ended her opening statement with a short but bold statement.
“Go hard or go home,” she said. “Go Gators.”
Contact Isis Snow at isnow@alligator.org. Follow her on X @isis_snoww.
Isis is a senior sports journalism student who is in her fourth semester at The Alligator. She previously has written for the Avenue desk and has covered the Florida volleyball beat. She also has experience in live broadcast reporting with WUFT. Despite hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada, she is a life-long Michigan and Detroit Lions fan. To make up for the emotional toll of being a fan of those teams, you will often find her in the gym weight lifting and playing basketball.
