Roosevelt University Director of Athletics John Jaramillo has announced the hiring of Charnelle Reed as the next head coach of the Lakers women's basketball program.
Reed comes to the Lakers after serving as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division II level for the past three years at Lewis University (2017-2019) and Purdue University Northwest (2019-2020).
"It is with tremendous pride and excitement that I welcome Charnelle Reed to Roosevelt University to lead our women's basketball program," said Jaramillo. "Charnelle is a rising star as a coach with a long list of accomplishments as a student-athlete, and she brings deep knowledge of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference and the local recruiting scene."
While at Lewis working with head coach Samantha Quigley Smith, her former college head coach at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Reed helped guide the Flyers to a 55-11 record and reached the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship in both seasons. In addition, she coached the D2CCA Women's Basketball Ron Lenz National Player of the Year, a WBCA All-American selection, the Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year, and five GLVC All-Conference award winners.
"Charnelle Reed is a winner in all aspects," stated Lewis University Head Women's Basketball Coach Samantha Quigley Smith." "Knowing Charnelle as a player and former coach, her ability to lead and mentor those around her was truly something special. Coaching isn't just about hoops x's and o's, it's about life and Charnelle gets that. Roosevelt chose a great one and we cannot wait to see the future of her program unfold."
This past season at Purdue Northwest, Reed assisted head coach Courtney Locke and the Pride doubled their win total from the previous year. The program boasted the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference Freshman of the Year runner-up as well.
Reed was a standout player and a graduate of the University of St. Francis, an NAIA and CCAC Conference member institution. In her two years playing for the Fighting Saints, she helped her team to an undefeated regular season (31-0) and a berth in the NAIA Final Four in 2017. Reed was also a two-year captain and scored over 1,000 points from 2015-2017, earning NAIA and WBCA All-American first team recognition in 2017.
Prior to her time at St. Francis, Reed played at Western Illinois University (2012-2013) and Bradley University (2013-2015), both NCAA Division I institutions.
"Words cannot describe how happy and excited I am for this opportunity," said Reed. "It is a journey I have been waiting for and I do not believe there was any better time than now. I want to thank everyone that has supported me during my journey as a coach and I want to give a special thanks to John Jaramillo for putting this program in my hands and trusting that we are going to do great things. Roosevelt is a place I would call home as my roots are in the Chicagoland area and I plan to represent it well in green and white."
Reed holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of St. Francis and she earned a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Lewis University.
"During the interview process, it was clear that Charnelle has a passion for the game that is equaled by her care for the young women in the program and cultivating a successful experience on the court and beyond basketball for our students," added Jaramillo. "She displays a maturity beyond her years along with competitiveness, resilience, and a sharp understanding on what it takes to win on and off the hardwood. I am looking forward to Charnelle's leadership in guiding our students through the challenges ahead, and I am thrilled she is a Roosevelt Laker."
