John Reynolds

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John Reynolds has witnessed the development of Florida Tech’s women’s basketball program since it began 26 years ago. After serving as an assistant during the inaugural season of 1986-87, he was named the program’s head coach and is now in his 25th year.

Reynolds enters the 2011-12 campaign ranking 13th among NCAA Division II active coaches with 442 victories. His .644 winning percentage (442-244) ranks 36th among his peers.  He has put together 19 winning seasons and won 20-plus games nine times.

Under his guidance, the Panthers have won six Sunshine State Conference Championships, four SSC Tournament Championships, one NCAA Division II South Region title and appeared in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight once.

Last season proved to be a year to remember for the Panthers as they made their seventh appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament. FIT defeated Tampa in the opening round before falling to then No. 1 Arkansas Tech to finish at 24-9 overall. Lynisha Nelson concluded her four-year career owning seven program records and tying one mark.

He has been recognized for his work on the court by being selected SSC Coach of the Year five times and South Region Coach of the Year twice. He has coached 49 All-SSC players, four SSC Freshman of the Year, four SSC Players of the Year, eight NCAA Division II All-South Region players, three NCAA Division II All-South Region Tournament players, four NCAA Division II All-Americans and three Florida Tech Hall of Famers.

Four of Reynolds’ former players were named to the SSC’s Silver Anniversary Team in 2007, including Felicia Bell, Christine Ferron Keenan, Paulette King-Morin and Sanja Radenkovic.  The quartet helped FIT place the most athletes of any other school on the team. King-Morin was chosen the top SSC player of the first 25 years. Ferron Keenan, King-Morin and Radenkovic are SSC Hall of Famers.

Three of his former players have joined him on his coaching staff. Returning for her sixth season is Delicia Lewis and her fifth season is Reynolds’ daughter, Laurissa Luther. Joining the staff is Danielle Quinn, who played in 2004-05.

Reynolds graduated in 1976 from Brockport State with a bachelor’s degree in history.

Reynolds is married to Gloria. The couple has two adult sons, Jason and Zachary, and Laurissa.  He has three grandchildren, Kaelani, Myles and Nadija.