Power of Friendship: Former College Roommates Turn SEC Coaching Rivals
When playing college basketball at Virginia, Dawn Staley would receive care packages from home; however, her backcourt partner, college roommate, and now Florida Gators head coach Tammi Reiss, wanted to take them.
Reiss wanted Staley’s care packages so badly that she challenged her for them. Reiss proposed that if she made Staley throw up, she could take her care package. Reiss prepared a plate with salad, fish, mayonnaise and milk. Staley threw up, and Reiss received the package.
Shortly before Staley committed to Virginia, she picked up the phone and asked Reiss to join her. Without hesitation, Reiss agreed, forming a dynamic backcourt duo for the Cavaliers.
Reiss and Staley were roommates for four years at Virginia and have maintained a 38-year friendship. During their time in school, Reiss and Staley loved pulling pranks on each other and their teammates.
“We were the pranksters of our team,” Staley said. “Tammi’s got a great mind. She was probably the culprit behind everything. I just went with it.”
Their playful nature never got in the way of their performance. Reiss and Staley appeared in three consecutive Final Fours (1990-1992), while both earned All-American honors during their time at Virginia.
Following successful playing careers, Reiss and Staley moved into coaching.
Staley started coaching at Temple before transforming South Carolina into one of the most successful women’s basketball programs this century. Staley has led the Gamecocks to three national titles, seven Final Fours and 10 SEC regular-season championships.
Reiss has bounced around throughout her coaching career. She started as an assistant coach at her alma mater and made various stops at other colleges and the WNBA. In 2019, Reiss landed her first head coaching opportunity at Rhode Island. This past season, Reiss jolted the Rams to their first March Madness appearance in more than 30 years.
Then, on Monday morning, Florida athletic director announced the Gators hired Reiss as their next women’s basketball coach. After leading Rhode Island to the dance, she will look to build a championship-level program at Florida.
Landing the Florida job brings history back up to the surface for Reiss as she gets an opportunity to coach against her former college roommate. Just as this friendship started in 1988, Staley advocated for Reiss to join her again, but this time as a coach in the SEC.
“This is a full-circle moment for both of us,” Staley said. “From sharing the court as roommates and teammates and now coaching in the same league, it’s special. And I know she’s going to make a strong impact at Florida.”
Category: Basketball, Gator Sports, Gators Women's Basketball
