Reid named Coahoma athletic director, first female to hold position

Story from Coahoma CC Athletics 

Selina Reid has been named Athletic Director, taking the helm of Coahoma Community College’s (CCC) comprehensive athletic department.

CCC president Dr. Valmadge T. Towner is pleased to welcome Reid to her new role and is confident she will bring exponential growth to CCC Athletics.

“First and foremost, being the first female to serve as AD with the college is historical but not nearly as significant as Mrs. Reid having the capacity, familiarity, knowledge, and overall appropriate skill set to serve effectively in her new role,” said Towner. “Mrs. Reid has given the most years of service to our athletics department in comparison to her peers. She’s passionate about the fact that athletics can serve an important role in the lives of student-athletes.”

The position, which Reid held for a brief interim period, manages all facets of Coahoma’s athletic program, including scheduling, hiring coaches, promoting programs and events, ordering equipment, constructing budgets, and facilitating operations. She will also assist in fundraising events and supervise all CCC sports personnel.

Towner has no doubts about Reid’s ability to push Coahoma’s athletic agenda forward.

“She’s also thorough in fulfilling work obligations, keenly aware of how education and athletics complement each other, and she’s smart and innately motivated. As with many of our colleagues, Mrs. Reid desires to see the institution serve students well. I look forward to working with her,” Towner stated.

“Circling back to the aspect of being the first female to serve in this role, perhaps her appointment will constitute to all of us the message that gender does not hinder one from advancing and excelling in their field of service,” Towner added.

Coahoma Athletics is actively working to deliver an unparalleled student-athlete experience fueled by the relentless pursuit of comprehensive excellence. The unit strives to be bold and innovative in its approach to recruiting and developing well-rounded graduates, championship-driven competitors, and world-changing leaders—all goals she takes seriously.

Reid sees her new title as the culmination of many years of hard work and dutiful service in her profession and to CCC. With admiration and appreciation, she looks forward to championing all things CCC on multiple levels.

“I am humbly grateful for this opportunity to serve Coahoma Community College as the athletic director,” Reid said. “First of all, I must give honor and glory to God. I am truly standing on the shoulders of all the great women in leadership who have proven that women can efficiently lead the charge of high-profile jobs.”

She hopes to be a shining example to women of what hope looks like when combined with grit and tenacity. These passions act as fuel to the trails that Reid hopes to blaze during her tenure.

In an athleticdirectoru.com article, it was reported that a mere 7.5% of the 345 NCAA Division I programs have female representation in upper-level athletic administration, highlighting the present-day inequities in higher-ed athletics.

Given these statistics, Reid is undeterred, acting as a champion for equal rights, and sees herself as an intrepid dreamer of change and forward-thinking.

“Women are moving the needle and breaking the glass ceiling more frequently now. In reality, this is much bigger than me,” Reid proudly added. “It is about being a beacon of light to give hope and inspiration to others who desire to pursue a career that may appear to be atypical for them to pursue.”

At the top of Reid’s agenda is bringing innovation and solid practices to her unit. She hopes that these new measures will build upon recent CCC successes.

“Our first order of business is to establish new processes within our department, implement more community service projects, enhance our fundraising efforts and reconnect with our alumni, and create a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee,” Reid shared.

Among her accomplishments, Reid became the first full-time head athletic trainer at CCC and volunteered her athletic training services at Coahoma Agricultural High School for ten years. In 2010, she became the first Assistant Athletic Director at Coahoma Community College. She also serves as Health, Physical Education, and Recreation department chairperson and assistant director for CCC Fit for Life Healthy Campus Initiative.

Reid holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry with a minor in Physical Education. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Human Performance with a concentration in Athletic Training from the University of Tennessee at Martin, along with a Master of Education in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation from Delta State University. She also holds numerous awards and certifications.

“I would like to give a special thanks to our president Dr. Valmadge Towner and the Board of Trustees for this opportunity to become the first female AD in Coahoma’s history, Dr. Rolonda Brown for the opportunity to serve as the Department Chair of Health, Physical Education and Recreation and Dr. Vivian Presley for the opportunity to have served as the first head athletic trainer and assistant athletic director,” said Reid.

She is married to Charles F. Reid, Jr., who is a native of Clarksdale, MS. They have two children, a daughter Nyla and a son Nyles. She attends Haven United Methodist Church in Clarksdale.

“Last but certainly not least, I must thank my husband Chuck and my daughter Nyla and my son Nyles for their love and support along with other family members and friends,” Reid added.