Women's Basketball 6/12/2025 10:00:00 AM

Jackson and Reid Join Women’s Basketball Coaching Staff

RADFORD, Va. – Radford women's basketball head coach Mike McGuire announced Thursday morning that Jessica Jackson (Associate Head Coach) and Joe Reid (Assistant Coach) have joined the coaching staff for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

JESSICA JACKSON – ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH
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Jackson, joining the staff as the Associate Head Coach, brings with her a wealth of collegiate basketball experience after spending the last four seasons as an assistant coach with Florida Atlantic. While on the Owls coaching staff, Jackson spearheaded all recruiting efforts within the staff. Through her efforts, she successfully recruited student-athletes who would earn awards such as a CUSA Freshman of the Year and various CUSA all-conference nods.

"I'm incredibly excited and grateful to join the Radford Women's Basketball family," commented Jackson. "From my conversations with Coach McGuire, I felt a strong sense of purpose and alignment. I've always been passionate about player development and empowering student-athletes to grow as leaders. I'm looking forward to building meaningful relationships, pouring into our team and helping elevate the program to a championship level."

"I am excited to welcome Jessica to Radford as our associate head coach," added McGuire. "Jessica brings a wealth of experience from various successful stops at the Division 1 level. As the collegiate landscape continues to change, staff leadership is now more important than ever. Jessica and I had strong conversations about what needs to be prioritized moving forward. Jessica will bring a strong sense of purpose to our program, will do an excellent job of engaging our student-athletes in several ways, and expects to win. She is passionate about helping young women and I know she will pour into this program. I look forward to her impact right away."

While bringing in multiple power and international prospects to Florida Atlantic, Jackson was also responsible for team defensive concepts and oversaw guard development. During the 2022-23 season she helped coach up the Owls first-ever Freshman of the Year award winner. Under her guidance during the 2024-25 season, she oversaw student-athletes earning nine weekly awards, setting the third-most assists in a single season, and AAC second-team all-conference honors.

Prior to her time in Boca Raton, Fla., Jackson served as the director of recruiting operations at Tennessee. During her two seasons with the Lady Volunteers, Tennessee produced a combined 38-18 overall record and a 19-10 record in SEC play while earning a spot in the SEC Tournament semifinals in 2021 for the first time in five years. Tennessee took down four ranked opponents, including No. 2/3 South Carolina, and earned the No. 3 and No. 5 seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

The Lady Volunteers first recruiting class, which was completed during the COVID-19 pandemic, produced 2020-21 starters in a true freshman and two graduate transfers. Jackson and the Tennessee staff's four-player signing class in 2021 was ranked as No. 9 by ProspectsNation and No. 15 by HoopGurlz/espnW.

A former player, graduate assistant and assistant under Tennessee's head coach Kellie Harper, Jackson spent the 2018-19 season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Harper at Missouri State. The Lady Bears, who went 25-10 (16-2 in Missouri Valley Conference) and won the MVC Tournament title that season, also advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.

Before MSU, Jackson worked at Samford during the 2017-18 season. Her main responsibilities for the Bulldog women's team included recruiting, academics and scheduling. Jackson served the prior three years at Appalachian State from 2014-17. She contributed to a myriad of aspects to the program in addition to her duties in the coaching and recruiting spectrum, ranging from equipment to compliance.

Before her time at Appalachian State, Jackson was the director of women's basketball operations at Kent State from 2012-14. She spent a two-year stint as a graduate assistant at North Carolina State before that.

Jackson graduated from WCU in 2010 with a marketing degree and earned her master's in adult and community college education from North Carolina State in 2012.

JOE REID – ASSISTANT COACH
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Reid, joining the staff as an assistant coach, brings an exciting energy and leadership to the women's basketball program. Reid comes from Blacksburg High School where he spent the last two seasons as the varsity program's head coach. Under his guidance, the Bruins achieved a 100% eligibility rate showcasing strong dedication to academic success. Reid helped enhance athlete performance, teamwork, and character through strategic coaching, mentoring and skill-building programs.

"I'm incredibly grateful for Coach McGuire's belief in me and thrilled for the opportunity to join the outstanding staff here at Radford University," commented Jackson. "I look forward to contributing to a program that prioritizes not only athletic excellence, but also the development of strong and confident student-athletes. I'm eager to bring my passion for player development to the team and to continue growing—both as a coach and as a person—under Coach McGuire's leadership."

"Over the past year or so, I have had good conversations with Joe about the game, player development, and his future goals," added McGuire. "I have always been impressed with the depth and quality of his questions as well as his ability to communicate. Along with staff leadership, having coaches that are passionate about player development is key in our current landscape. Joe has a passion for player development and I look forward to him providing more depth in this area of our program. Joe has good energy and is very relatable – I know he will assist in empowering our ladies to be the best versions of themselves."

Since 2016, Reid has also spent time as a private player development coach. Over those nine years, he has privately trained athletes ranging from elementary school to NCAA Division I by enhancing individual strengths through advanced drills, position-specific instruction, and personalized feedback tailored to each student.

Before taking over as head coach at Blacksburg High School in 2023, Reid spent two seasons as an assistant coach and player development director. Reid has also made a coaching stop at Christiansburg High School varsity basketball (assistant coach) from 2014-16.

Contributing even further to the Southwest Virginia basketball scene, Reid competed as a professional player with the Roanoke Rising Stars from 2018-2020 as a part of the American Basketball Association. He was an elite shooter from deep, shooting at a 41% clip from three-point range. Prior to that, Reid spent two seasons as a collegiate player with New River Community College ranking fourth all-time in program history for scoring.

STAY SOCIAL WITH RADFORD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
For all the latest on Radford women's basketball, be sure to follow the team on X (@Radford_WBB), Instagram (@radford_wbb), and "like" the team's official Facebook Page (Radford Women's Basketball).

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