GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Tammi Reiss long ago committed herself to working hard, building relationships and living a life loaded with responsibility and goals. She was reminded of that on Saturday evening in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.
Reiss was standing on the sideline in Louisville as her Rhode Island team faced Alabama, the Rams’ first appearance in March Madness in 30 years and only the second in program history. Reiss, a former star player at Virginia whose various adult pursuits have included coaching, acting and business ownership, caught a glimpse of Crimson Tide coach Kristy Curry at the other end of the court.
At that moment, if a quote bubble had floated above Reiss’ head as she danced on the game’s biggest stage, facing a Power 4 opponent with the season on the line, the rest of the world could have seen what she was thinking.
“This is what you wanted,” Reiss said.
Reiss had an inkling an opportunity might be on the horizon following recent discussions with Gators Athletic Director Scott Stricklin and the University Athletic Association committee searching for a new UF women’s basketball coach. Still, she didn’t know for sure until Stricklin called late Sunday morning to offer her the job.
The 55-year-old Reiss, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley’s backcourt partner at Virginia in the early 1990s, checked off another box on her bucket list as soon as she said yes.
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