Florida’s Tammi Reiss brings an all-in standard to Florida's rebuild

Tammi Reiss, the new head coach at the University of Florida, did not come to Florida with any expectations of a comfortable first season. She inherited an almost entirely new roster and stepped into what she considers the nation's premier women's basketball league. The Gators have already embraced the culture and competitive standard Reiss aims to establish before the start of SEC play.

Reiss shared her opening thoughts on entering her first season at Florida. She expressed her excitement about being at the University of Florida and being in what she considers the best league in America. She emphasized that she is not just a basketball coach but also has other passions, such as acting, business, and professional basketball. Reiss highlighted the importance of balance in her life and career.

When asked about the new roster, Reiss expressed pride in the buy-in and culture from her players. She emphasized that every player is fully committed to the team's goals and works hard to achieve them. Reiss also discussed her conversations with former Virginia teammate and roommate Dawn Staley, who provided valuable advice on rebuilding a program during the recruitment, marketing, and fan base aspects of the job.

Reiss reflected on her years as an assistant coach and how that experience prepared her for the head coaching position. She mentioned that she never truly wanted to be a head coach but loved being an assistant coach for the relationships, recruiting, and player development. Her experiences at Syracuse, Virginia, Cal State Fullerton, and San Diego State helped her evaluate different coaching styles and ultimately build the right coach for herself.

Reiss stated that her coaching philosophy has not changed since her playing days, with four key expectations for her players: culture, communication, hard work, and competition.