Tammi Reiss on Energy, Skill and No Skipping Steps (EP391)

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Rhode Island head coach Tammi Reiss joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on energy, skill and no skipping steps.

Tammi Reiss has led the University of Rhode Island women's basketball program to unprecedented success since becoming head coach. In the 2022–23 season, she guided the Rams to a program-record 26 wins and their first-ever Atlantic 10 Regular Season Championship. The year prior, Rhode Island posted 22 wins, marking the first time in program history the team achieved back-to-back 20-win seasons. Under her leadership, the Rams advanced to the WNIT Super 16 in 2023, earning two postseason victories for the first time.

Reiss was named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year in both 2020–21 and 2022–23. She was also recognized nationally as ESPNW Coach of the Week on February 14, 2022, and again on February 6, 2023.

Before arriving at Rhode Island, Reiss served as an assistant coach at Syracuse, Cal State Fullerton, San Diego State and Virginia, contributing to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and conference titles. Her professional coaching experience includes roles with the WNBA’s San Antonio Silver Stars and Utah Starzz, as well as her alma mater, the University of Virginia.

In addition to her collegiate achievements, Reiss was an assistant coach for Team USA’s 3x3 squads, helping lead them to a Bronze Medal at the Olympics and a Gold Medal at the World Championships.

She was a four-year starter for the Cavaliers, earning All-American honors in1992. 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 TournamentTeam twice. She ended her collegiate career ranked first in school history in 3-point field goals made (139) and 3-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. She played two seasons for Utah, serving as team captain.