"A coach is someone who tells you what you don't want to hear, who has you see what you don't want to see, so you can be who you always knew you could be" - NFL Hall of Fame Head Coach Tom Landry
As Longwood women’s basketball head coach Bill Reinson embarks on his seventh season, he recently promoted Sherrie Tucker to associate head coach and hired two new assistant coaches in Messiah Reames and Antwon Harris.
Reinson said the new coaches will help create a balanced coaching staff, with the ability to help mentor and connect with all players.
Prior to Longwood, Reames coached for the Philly Triple Threat AAU program and for a high school women's varsity basketball team in Pennsylvania. He also served as a skills assistant with James Madison University and George Washington University.
Then, he was offered the job at Longwood.
“I’ve always had that dream of basketball one day to be a full time job because that’s my passion, and I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. So when the opportunity came to join the Lancer family, I had to take it," he said.
Reinson called Reames' energy "infectious," saying the assistant coach added a necessary piece to the staff.
“We needed a little bit more energy, and coach Reames definitely bring that. He’s very intense and demanding, and he brings things that I don’t,” said Reinson.
Reames said, “My energy is always up, and I’m super enthusiastic and passionate about what I do. I think me being a spark plug adds an element that’s needed.”
The other newcomer was once a player in the Big South conference, as coach Harris played two years at Winthrop University after playing two years at Highland Community College.
Harris’ laidback coaching style served as the perfect compliment to the Reames' upbeat, fiery nature. He said he believed both of their coaching styles struck a “balance so the players can get both sides of it, but know we’re trying to get the same thing across.”
When Harris played for Winthrop, he said he never considered coaching post grad. “I thought I’d finish my career, and maybe play a little bit overseas professionally. Then get into teaching or being a counselor,” he said.
Instead, the opportunity unexpectedly fell into his lap - his junior college program reached out, asking for him to coach. "I stepped up to the plate, and put my all into it," he said.
The new Associate Head Coach Sherrie Tucker also said she didn't see coaching in her future initially.
“At first, I really didn’t want to become a coach. When I was a player, I had coaches ask me if I thought about coaching, and would tell them I didn’t want that life,” said Tucker.
Also known as “Tuck” by the players, the associate head coach saw a successful collegiate career at Division I Coppin State University, averaging 15.3 points, and 4.7 rebounds per game. After graduating, she was one of two Coppin State women's basketball players to see their jersey retired. Her illustrious tenure sent her overseas for two seasons before her last stop as a practice player for the Washington Mystics in Women’s National Basketball Association.
After her playing career, Tucker worked as a behavior specialist.
“I would say I did it at first for a check, but it started to become something I loved. The fact that I could build relationships with younger people and impact their lives, and I think coaching stemmed from there,” she said.
She draws from her own experiences as student-athlete to aid her approach as a coach.
“I think it’s key in our business to build relationships with these young ladies. We go through a lot of experiences and I’ve been exactly where these girls are," said Tucker.
After joining the Longwood staff in 2013, Tucker called her off-season promotion "amazing."
“Coach Reinson has a lot of trust in me and it shows. He gave me a lot of responsibility where he lets me prove myself, and I’m forever grateful for him giving me this opportunity,” said Tucker.
In addition to her roles as the team travel coordinator, academic and film liaison, and leader of post-player skill development, she is now Reinson's second-in-command.
After four years with the program, Reinson said Tucker knew him better than "anyone else in this building" as he explained his choice. "She knows me," he said.
Reinson said Tucker's promotion was advantageous to both of them: her knowledge and skills act as a "counterbalance" to his own and a position with more responsibility will help her career.
"It really does help me to have someone as my right hand person," he said.
Bringing it all together is Reinson. Though he carries a 47-128 record as the head coach, he said he's looking to return the team to it's former glory, hearkening memories of the 2012-13 season when the Lancers reached the Big South Championship.
Reinson, the 2013 Virginia Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year, and the rest of the coaching staff will begin their season when the team travels to play Marshall on Nov. 10.
