Sports
How athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois is reshaping Arizona Wildcats with a lean budget and lofty goals
When Desireé Reed-Francois last month shared the process behind the hire of track and field/cross country coach Andrew Dubs, she provided a direct window into the precise decision making required of a Power 5 athletic director with a finite budget.
Arizona did not use a search firm, which could have cost into the five figures. Instead, Reed-Francois deployed high-level staffers to conduct a national search process, while relying on her contacts across two-plus decades in college athletics.
Once Reed-Francois narrowed her sights on Dubs, an assistant at Virginia Tech, the work only picked up from there.
Reed-Francois spent three years in athletic administration at Virginia Tech before becoming the athletic director at UNLV and then Missouri. She turned to her Blacksburg connections to get a full rundown on the coach she would be entrusting with Arizona’s track and cross country programs.
“He would be surprised the number of people we contacted about him in our background checking,” Reed-Francois said.
“Some would say sleuthing,” Reed-Francois added with a slight smile.
The amount of diligence Reed-Francois put into the hiring of a non-revenue head coach illustrates the lengths Arizona’s second-year AD will go to carry out her vision for an efficient, economical and winning athletic department.
A 5-year roadmap
Last month Arizona Athletics released a 5-year strategic plan called The Bear Down Blueprint that lays out the department’s top goals through 2030.
The plan, developed in tandem with the Eller College of Management, provides a roadmap for what Reed-Francois expects to see in the coming years. Key goals include:
- Establishing Arizona as a Top 25 athletics department nationally and a top three program in the Big 12 Conference
- Developing a long-term, sustainable business model aligned with future revenue-sharing frameworks
- Balance the department budget by FY26 (Arizona Athletics reduced its deficit from $39 million to $5 million in Reed-Francois’ first year)
- Growing total fundraising to the top third in the Big 12 Conference, with long-term targets for major gifts, annual giving, and donor base expansion
Other goals include maintaining a 3.25+ department GPA, increasing season ticket retention and enhancing revenue-sharing infrastructure in the wake of the House settlement.
“This is a plan about clarity, purpose, and discipline,” Reed-Francois said.
If Reed-Francois’ vision for the athletic department’s on-field success sounds ambitious, it is. Arizona is coming off a 43rd-place finish in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings. Only one Big 12 school made the top 25—BYU at 25th—and a total of six Big 12 schools finished ahead of the UA.
Arizona is not operating in the college athletics landscape it was when Reed-Francois attended the university as a law student in the late 1990s. During those years, Arizona routinely finished in the top 10 of the Directors’ Cup, buoyed by national championships in sports like softball, men’s and women’s golf and, of course, men’s basketball.
Reed-Francois’ time as a student came during the university’s glory days, before massive television contracts and conference realignment shifted college athletics’ balance of power to the Midwest and Southeast.
Reed-Francois’ goals for the future are undoubtedly rooted in her own past. She’s spoken of the thrills of celebrating Arizona basketball’s 1997 national title, of the excitement that engulfed Tucson during the peak of the school’s athletic prowess.
Whether Arizona can climb back into the upper-echelon of athletic departments will come down to how well the department’s financial blueprint is executed. Reed-Francois knows how work a room and balance a spreadsheet.
“This plan is not just aspirational—it’s actionable,” Reed-Francois said. “We’ve established the framework, the benchmarks, and the accountability to move with purpose.”
The plan will also depend on whether the coaches Reed-Francois hires and retains can meet her lofty expectations while working under a fiscally conscious boss.
Return on investment
Reed-Francois’ predecessor, Dave Heeke, developed a reputation–fair or not–as a free spender. With the backing of former UA president Robert Robbins, Arizona Athletics’ debt ballooned under Heeke’s watch in part because of major loans the department took out during COVID.
In June 2024, the athletic department had $171 million in outstanding principal for capital improvements to facilities and $96 million in internal loans from the university, according to a report by Arizona Public Media.
In front of the Arizona Board of Regents, Reed-Francois last June vowed to trim personnel costs, cut down on the department’s travel budget and bring in more donations and ticket sales. A year later, in the same press conference that she introduced Dubs as track/cross country head coach, Reed-Francois sounded like a well-seasoned account as much as a college athletics administrator.
“We are going to look at every single dollar spent,” Reed-Francois said. “Just because this is how we’ve always done it isn’t going to work anymore.
“There has to be a return on investment.”
Conserving money is at the forefront of every item that comes across Reed-Francois’ desk, and few decisions are more important than who an athletic hires, fires or retains.
In her first year-plus as AD, Reed-Francois has shown a willingness to make sometimes unconventional personnel moves, even if they’re unpopular. They include:
- Retaining football coach Brent Brennan after a disappointing first season rather than pay a buyout of more than $10 million and spend tens of millions more to bring in a new coaching staff
- Not extending the contract of women’s basketball coach Adia Barnes’, who was due to make $1.3 million next season, thus opening the door for Barnes to leave for the head job at SMU
- Giving softball coach Caitlin Lowe and men’s golf coach Jim Anderson one-year extensions – as reported by AZ Desert Swarm’s Kim Doss – a move that signals an unwillingness to commit long term to two coaches who’ve recently underachieved in the postseason
- Hiring mid-major head coaches to fill vacancies for swimming and diving (Ben Loorz, UNLV) and women’s basketball (Becky Burke, Buffalo)
- Hiring assistant coaches to lead track and field/cross country (Dubs) and women’s golf (Giovana Maymon)
Reed-Francois has consistently opted to not award lucrative extensions and to hire young coaches willing to sign on for less money than hiring a high-major head coach.
Reed-Francois’ personnel philosophy doesn’t come without risks.
Deciding not to give a multi-year extension to an established coach could send a sour message to the program’s athletes, or encourage the coach to look for employment elsewhere. Opposing programs may use a coach’s tenuous status as a negative recruiting tactic.
Hiring head coaches unproven at the Power 4 level can be a huge gamble even in the best of circumstances. Arizona’s non-revenue sports are already competing at a serious financial disadvantage compared to SEC and Big Ten peers.
At the same time, Reed-Francois’ decisions to cut back on coach salary has allowed her to fulfill a promise to not cut any Olympic programs.
“Our Olympic sports are a source of pride,” Reed-Francois said in June. “We are going to continue to be very good fiscal stewards. We’re going to be disciplined in our approach and we’re going to be very aggressive in our revenue spaces.”
Reed-Francois pointed to selling naming rights to McKale Center and Arizona Stadium as a revenue generating option, while creating endowments for Olympic sports is an avenue towards preserving non-revenue programs.
“We have to look at this as the big business enterprise that we are,” Reed-Francois said.
Springfield, Mass. – December 23, 2025 – Springfield College is excited to announce the 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame Class, which will be inducted on April 11. The six individuals who have been chosen to the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame include:
Marisa Clapp ’04 – Women’s Cross Country
Nick Guerette ’00 – Men’s Track & Field
Damian Larkins ’01 – Men’s Track & Field and Football
Jackie Moscardelli ’12 – Women’s Soccer and Women’s Lacrosse
Nick Porillo ’76 – Wrestling
Steve Spagnuolo ’82 – Football
The Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame was established by the Class of 1933 in 1972 to honor members of the College community for outstanding achievement on the “playing field” or for service, dedication, and commitment to athletics, sport and related programs. To date, over 200 individuals have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
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If it feels too good to be true, it usually is. The Kentucky volleyball team felt like a team of destiny, but that destiny did not manifest in a National Championship. Even though the Cats came up one game short of a second title, this special season did unquantifiable good for the program.
Volleyball culture is embedded in the Commonwealth, with successful clubs racking up national titles, but that world is unknown to most sports fans around the state. In 2025, Kentucky hit all the right notes to grow the game.
Casuals turned on their TVs when the Cats jumped out to a two-set lead over top-ranked Nebraska in the opening weekend of the season. Even though it ended with a loss, that performance got plenty of people interested enough to turn on their TVs a week later. They watched the Wildcats sweep Penn State on the night the Defending National Champions hung their title banner.
It was a gauntlet of a schedule, one that produced plenty of dramatic moments. After falling behind 2-1 against Louisville, Kentucky rallied for a five-set rivalry win.
Kentucky owned the SEC for years. When perennial title contender Texas arrived, that dominance was in question. The Cats went on the road and swept the No. 2 team in the country.
It’s not just that they won. This Kentucky volleyball team played an entertaining and inspiring style of volleyball. Brooklyn DeLeye and Eva Hudson created an explosive 1-2 punch on the outside, while Lizzie Carr’s length looked like Spider-Man in the middle. You didn’t have to know ball to have fun watching this team.
As the Cats picked up steam, BBN got behind them in a way that I didn’t think was possible. Craig Skinner stood on a table to ask fans to show up to Historic Memorial Coliseum. He climbed to the rafters of Rupp, went to the top of the tallest building in Lexington, and even hopped in a fighter jet to rally Kentucky fans to support this team.
They showed up in droves and packed Historic Memorial Coliseum to propel Kentucky to the Final Four for just the second time in school history. When fans couldn’t make it to the game, they packed KSBar for watch parties. It was surreal to hear a harmonica playing a fight song in front of a full restaurant late on a weeknight while Kentucky reverse-swept Texas in the SEC Tournament Title.
Just when you thought you couldn’t love this team any more, they did the unthinkable in the Final Four. It’s easy to become jaded by college athletics in the money-driven world of NIL and the transfer portal. This team sacrificed for one another and played together, no matter the circumstances.
Wisconsin looked destined to dominate. Carter Booth was possessed in the middle. A dozen blocks would be a great game for a middle, and she had nearly two dozen. The Cats only scored 12 points in the first set. It didn’t look much better in the second, yet somehow, some way, they rallied under pressure. Brooklyn DeLeye’s defense was outstanding, while Eva Hudson powered the Cats’ offense with nearly 30 kills in a gutsy, five-set win, a victory that will make lifelong Kentucky volleyball fans.
All good things must come to an end. Unfortunately, they could not capitalize on a hot start in the National Championship. After letting the first set slip away, Texas A&M took over. Kentucky did not have one more rally in the tank.
The season ended with a loss, but they won’t be losing much from this team. Eva Hudson was the star, but the only senior on the roster. After making countless new fans, the Kentucky volleyball team will surely give them more reasons to cheer in 2026.
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Lameria Thomas of Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Newcomer of the Week the league announced Monday.
Thomas made her first start of the season against Illinois-Chicago on Saturday and had an 11-point, 14-rebound performance. The Montgomery, Alabama native shot five of six from the field while picking up one assist and one steal.
The junior is averaging 5.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game this season, with her 11 points and 14 rebounds at UIC being career-highs.
Thomas and the Govs are back home on Dec. 28 for a 2 p.m. matchup against Berry at F&M Bank Arena.
Dec. 23, 2025, 4:02 a.m. ET
Rowan Kage’s first three years at Gainesville High School each offered something different.
A losing record and injury struggles her freshman season. A district title for the first time in a decade with a Division I laden roster her sophomore year. The team lost in the region semifinals in an arduous region. Junior year brought a new coach and roster. It was a remarkable season with another district title, a No. 1 seed…and a first-round playoff upset.
Details
Posted: 22-Dec-25
Location: Clinton, South Carolina
Type: Full-time
Categories:
Coaching
Coaching – Volleyball
Sector:
Collegiate Sports
Required Education:
4 Year Degree
Presbyterian College invites applications for the position of Assistant Coach for Women’s Volleyball. This position is responsible for assisting the Head Coach with all aspects of the Women’s Volleyball program, including recruiting, player development, academic monitoring, operations, and compliance. The successful candidate will contribute to a competitive NCAA Division I program while supporting the academic and personal growth of student-athletes.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities Assist in coaching and instructing the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball program.
Support all recruiting efforts, including evaluating prospective student-athletes, maintaining recruiting records, coordinating campus and home visits, communicating with high school and club coaches, and assisting with admissions processes.
Monitor student-athlete academic progress, including class schedules, study hall, and academic checks.
Assist with monitoring financial aid, squad lists, eligibility forms, and required documentation.
Assist with scouting opponents and preparing match analysis.
Support pre-season and post-season conditioning programs.
Assist in organizing and administering summer volleyball camps.
Coordinate team travel logistics, including pre- and post-game meals, hotel arrangements, and cash advances.
Coordinate and oversee all video exchange and video-related operations.
Operate in full compliance with NCAA, Big South Conference, and Presbyterian College rules and policies.
Attend faculty, college, and athletic department meetings and events as required.
Participate in college and community service initiatives.
Perform additional duties as assigned by the Head Coach.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with student-athletes, coaches, faculty, staff, and community members.
Ability to supervise, train, and support student workers or support staff.
Ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
Strong computer and technology skills.
Ability to work collaboratively within a diverse team environment.
Knowledge of or ability to stay current with emerging technologies related to video, data, and computing.
Enthusiasm, adaptability, and the ability to thrive in an environment of continual change.
Education and Experience Prior collegiate coaching experience preferred.
Knowledge of NCAA rules and regulations preferred.
Work Environment and Physical Demands Travel, evening, and weekend work required.
Application Procedure Interested candidates should submit a letter of application, current résumé, and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three professional references via email to: Human Resources at hr@presby.edu
Qualifications:
Prior collegiate coaching experience preferred.
Strong communication, organizational, and computer skills.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
About Presbyterian College
The Blue Hose Athletics Department sponsors 19 NCAA Division I sports and is dedicated to building competitive programs while prioritizing student-athlete success in the classroom, in competition, and in the community. Presbyterian College emphasizes compliance, sportsmanship, and a student-centered approach that supports both athletic and personal growth.
Located in a close-knit campus community, Presbyterian College offers employees the opportunity to work collaboratively with dedicated faculty, staff, and coaches who are invested in developing young leaders. The College values service, inclusion, and innovation, and encourages professional growth within a supportive and mission-driven environme…nt.
Presbyterian College is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.
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https://ncaamarket.ncaa.org/jobs/21925027/volleyball-assistant-coach
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