Women's Basketball
Tammi Reiss
- Title:
- Head Women's Basketball Coach
Tammi Reiss joined the Florida Gators as the women's basketball program's 12th head coach on March 23 2026. One of the most dynamic rising leaders in college basketball, Reiss arrived in Gainesville as a proven program builder, elite recruiter and relentless competitor with championship experience as both a player and coach.
A three-time All-American during her playing days at Virginia, Reiss was hired just days after leading Rhode Island to its first NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament appearance in 30 years, capping a remarkable turnaround for a program that posted just one winning season in the 15 years prior to her arrival.
Her skills as a player helped the Cavaliers reach three consecutive Final Fours and the 1991 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship Game, and made Reiss the fifth overall selection in the inaugural 1997 WNBA Draft. As an assistant coach, she helped guide Virginia, San Diego State Aztecs, and Syracuse women's basketball to the NCAA Tournament before taking over at the helm of the Rams.
Off the court, Reiss was a three-time All-ACC Academic selection and a 1992 Academic All-American whose passions also extend beyond basketball. She has appeared in the films Juwanna Mann and Double Teamed, as well as the television series Sister, Sister.
When Reiss took over as head coach of the Rams prior to the 2019-20 season, she inherited a program that was 24 years removed from its last 20-win campaign, had just one winning season over the previous 15 years, and had posted double-digit victories in just two of the previous 10 seasons.
The turnaround was instantaneous. Despite her first two years at the helm of the Rams being shortened by COVID restrictions, Reiss led Rhode Island to both its second highest winning percentage and first winning season since 2003-04. Her second season in Kingston included 11 conference wins, which were the most for the program since 1995-96.
In 2021-22, Reiss’ first full season with the Rams, Rhode Island set a program record for wins by going 22-7. They bettered that mark the very next year by posting a 26-7 mark, and this past season, Reiss and company again set a program record for victories by going 28-5, advancing to the NCAA Tournament by winning their first-ever Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship. That record includes road wins over then-16th-ranked NC State of the ACC, and Providence from the Big East.
Prior to joining the Rams, Reiss spent four years as an assistant coach at Syracuse. During her time with the Orange, she helped Syracuse to three straight NCAA Tournament second round appearances. She mentored the only players in program history to earn WBCA Division I Coaches All-America Honors in Alexis Peterson, Brittney Sykes, and Tiana Mangakahia. Peterson and Mangakahia also earned Associated Press All-America Honors. Both Peterson and Sykes were selected in the 2017 WNBA Draft and Sykes went on to earn 2017 WNBA All-Rookie Team honors.
Reiss helped Syracuse to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, posting a 7-4 record. The Orange had 99 wins during her four-year span, including 45 conference victories. Following its run to the national championship game in 2016, the team was ranked No.3 nationally in the final USA Today Coaches poll — its highest rank in program history.
Before Syracuse, Reiss spent time at Cal State Fullerton as the associate head coach. She served as the Titans’ recruiting coordinator and was responsible for game and practice preparation, player development with emphasis on guard play, and conducted the offseason conditioning program.
From 2011-13, Reiss was an assistant coach at San Diego State, where she helped guide the Aztecs to two regular-season Mountain West titles, the 2012 conference tournament crown, and one NCAA Tournament appearance.
Prior to working at San Diego State, Reiss served as an assistant coach for the WNBA’s San Antonio Silver Stars and Utah Starzz. During her time in Utah, the Starzz advanced to the Western Conference finals in 2002.
Reiss was an assistant coach at her alma mater, Virginia, from 1993-96. She helped guide the Cavaliers to two ACC regular season titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances, including two trips to the Elite Eight.
The Eldred, N.Y. native was a four-year starter for the Cavaliers, earning All-American honors in 1992. She led UVA to three ACC regular-season titles, two league tournament championships, and three Final Four appearances. Reiss earned All-Conference honors three times in her career and was named to the All-ACC Tournament Team twice.
She ended her collegiate career ranked first in school history in three-point field goals made (139) and three-point field goal percentage (.416), and was second in points (1,842) and free throws made (437).
Reiss was the fifth overall pick in the 1997 WNBA Draft by the Starzz where she played two seasons.
HONORS
COACHING CAREER
AS A PLAYER
A three-time All-American during her playing days at Virginia, Reiss was hired just days after leading Rhode Island to its first NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament appearance in 30 years, capping a remarkable turnaround for a program that posted just one winning season in the 15 years prior to her arrival.
Her skills as a player helped the Cavaliers reach three consecutive Final Fours and the 1991 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship Game, and made Reiss the fifth overall selection in the inaugural 1997 WNBA Draft. As an assistant coach, she helped guide Virginia, San Diego State Aztecs, and Syracuse women's basketball to the NCAA Tournament before taking over at the helm of the Rams.
Off the court, Reiss was a three-time All-ACC Academic selection and a 1992 Academic All-American whose passions also extend beyond basketball. She has appeared in the films Juwanna Mann and Double Teamed, as well as the television series Sister, Sister.
When Reiss took over as head coach of the Rams prior to the 2019-20 season, she inherited a program that was 24 years removed from its last 20-win campaign, had just one winning season over the previous 15 years, and had posted double-digit victories in just two of the previous 10 seasons.
The turnaround was instantaneous. Despite her first two years at the helm of the Rams being shortened by COVID restrictions, Reiss led Rhode Island to both its second highest winning percentage and first winning season since 2003-04. Her second season in Kingston included 11 conference wins, which were the most for the program since 1995-96.
In 2021-22, Reiss’ first full season with the Rams, Rhode Island set a program record for wins by going 22-7. They bettered that mark the very next year by posting a 26-7 mark, and this past season, Reiss and company again set a program record for victories by going 28-5, advancing to the NCAA Tournament by winning their first-ever Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship. That record includes road wins over then-16th-ranked NC State of the ACC, and Providence from the Big East.
Prior to joining the Rams, Reiss spent four years as an assistant coach at Syracuse. During her time with the Orange, she helped Syracuse to three straight NCAA Tournament second round appearances. She mentored the only players in program history to earn WBCA Division I Coaches All-America Honors in Alexis Peterson, Brittney Sykes, and Tiana Mangakahia. Peterson and Mangakahia also earned Associated Press All-America Honors. Both Peterson and Sykes were selected in the 2017 WNBA Draft and Sykes went on to earn 2017 WNBA All-Rookie Team honors.
Reiss helped Syracuse to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, posting a 7-4 record. The Orange had 99 wins during her four-year span, including 45 conference victories. Following its run to the national championship game in 2016, the team was ranked No.3 nationally in the final USA Today Coaches poll — its highest rank in program history.
Before Syracuse, Reiss spent time at Cal State Fullerton as the associate head coach. She served as the Titans’ recruiting coordinator and was responsible for game and practice preparation, player development with emphasis on guard play, and conducted the offseason conditioning program.
From 2011-13, Reiss was an assistant coach at San Diego State, where she helped guide the Aztecs to two regular-season Mountain West titles, the 2012 conference tournament crown, and one NCAA Tournament appearance.
Prior to working at San Diego State, Reiss served as an assistant coach for the WNBA’s San Antonio Silver Stars and Utah Starzz. During her time in Utah, the Starzz advanced to the Western Conference finals in 2002.
Reiss was an assistant coach at her alma mater, Virginia, from 1993-96. She helped guide the Cavaliers to two ACC regular season titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances, including two trips to the Elite Eight.
The Eldred, N.Y. native was a four-year starter for the Cavaliers, earning All-American honors in 1992. She led UVA to three ACC regular-season titles, two league tournament championships, and three Final Four appearances. Reiss earned All-Conference honors three times in her career and was named to the All-ACC Tournament Team twice.
She ended her collegiate career ranked first in school history in three-point field goals made (139) and three-point field goal percentage (.416), and was second in points (1,842) and free throws made (437).
Reiss was the fifth overall pick in the 1997 WNBA Draft by the Starzz where she played two seasons.
THE REISS FILE
CAREER HEAD COACHING RECORD| Overall | Conference | Conference | ||
| Season | W-L | W-L | Finish | Postseason |
| 2019-20 | 13-16 | 6-10 | 11th | |
| 2020-21 | 11-8 | 11-4 | 3rd | |
| 2021-22 | 22-7 | 12-2 | 2nd | WNIT First Round |
| 2022-23 | 26-7 | 14-2 | 1st (T) | WNIT Super Sixteen |
| 2023-24 | 21-14 | 10-6 | 6th | |
| 2024-25 | 17-16 | 11-7 | 5th (T) | |
| 2025-26 | 28-5 | 16-2 | 1st (T) | A-10 Champions, NCAA First Round |
| 2026-27 | ||||
| Totals | 138-73 (.654) | 80-33 (.708) |
HONORS
- 2025-26 Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year watch list
- 2025-26 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year
- 2022-23 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year
- 2020-21 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year
COACHING CAREER
- 2026-present, Florida
- 2019-26, Rhode Island
- 2015-19, Syracuse (assistant)
- 2013-15, Cal State Fullerton (AHC)
- 2011-13, San Diego State (assistant)
- 2003, San Antonio Silver Stars (assistant)
- 2001-02, Utah Starzz (assistant)
- 1993-96, Virginia (assistant)
AS A PLAYER
- Three-time All-American at Virginia
- 1992 Academic All-American at Virginia
- Participated in three straight Final Fours (1990, 1991, 1992) with the Cavaliers, and the NCAA Tournament Championship Game (1991)
- Graduated as Virginia’s career leader in three-point field goal percentage and made three-pointers, while ranking second in points
- Fifth overall selection in the inaugural 1997 WNBA Draft by the Utah Starzz
- Two-year starter for the Starzz
Tammi Reiss Introductory Press Conference | 3-24-26
Wednesday, March 25
SEC Tournament: Liv McGill and Coach Finley Postgame Press Conference 3-5-26
Thursday, March 05
SEC Tournament Postgame Press Conference 3-4-26
Wednesday, March 04
SEC Tournament: Liv McGill, Me'Arah O'Neal and Coach Finley Postgame Press Conference 3-4-26
Wednesday, March 04
