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2016-17
BASKETBALL
6
THE UNIVERSITY
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STUDENT-ATHLETE SUPPORT
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PLAYERS & STAFF
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HISTORY & RECORDS
Desiree Reed-Francois fills a critical role for Virginia Tech Director of
Athletics Whit Babcock, overseeing the football and volleyball programs,
and the day-to-day operations of the external team, which includes ticketing
services, marketing and promotions, HokieVision, strategic communications,
graphic design/publications, corporate development, and IMG, as well as
having oversight of sports medicine.
Reed-Francois followed Babcock to Tech in May of 2014 after serving
as Babcock’s Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman
Administrator at the University of Cincinnati. She served as the interim AD
at Cincinnati for five months after Babcock left to take the same position
at Tech, making her the first Hispanic female (interim) AD at the FBS level.
“She earned my trust and respect at Cincinnati and did an outstanding
job leading and enhancing all of the external units of the department along
with successfully collaborating with our coaches, staff and university
administration,” Babcock said in announcing her hire. “Desiree believes in
creating ‘memorable experiences’ for our fans, students, donors and alumni
and will bring tremendous energy, organization, creativity and work ethic to
the department. She will help move Virginia Tech forward and will be an
asset to our program and overall vision.”
Coming to Tech as the Executive Associate Athletics Director and Senior
Woman Administrator, Reed-Francois received a promotion to Deputy
Athletics Director in June of 2016. A 2009 graduate of the Division I
Athletics Director Institute, she is among an elite group of Power Five female
administrators who have ascended to the role of Deputy AD.
She is also among an even more exclusive group of women who oversee
the day-to-day operations of a nationally prominent FBS football program.
Along with Babcock, she played a pivotal role in the hiring of head coach
Justin Fuente to succeed Frank Beamer.
“I lean on her for advice and counsel often and she is an executive leader
of our department in her own right,” Babcock said. “She has my trust and
respect. She does a wonderful job for the Hokies.
“Thanks to her steadfast approach and commitment, we have developed
a very collaborative culture in athletics and an enhanced commitment to
excellence across the board. She has made a very positive impact on our
department and our student-athletes, while strengthening our relationships
on campus and across the country.
We are very fortunate that Desiree is
leading so many aspects of our team
at Virginia Tech.”
“I am humbled by the trust and
responsibility that Whit has placed in
me,” Reed-Francois said. “But this is
truly a team effort and I’m grateful for the
many talented individuals who have all
been part of the positive momentum that
we are collectively building. Whit has
been a tremendous mentor and example
for us all. I appreciate his continued
leadership and his support of our work
as we seek to uphold and exceed the
very high standards of Virginia Tech.”
As a former NCAA Division I student-athlete herself—she was a member
of the UCLA rowing team—Reed-Francois brings a unique perspective to
her post and has been a staunch advocate of making the student-athlete
and fan experience at Virginia Tech even better. She and her respective
units have listened to feedback from coaches, students, ticket-holders,
donors and many other groups to more effectively and authentically engage
a wide array of Virginia Tech stakeholders. Their efforts have recently been
recognized for national awards by the National Association of Collegiate
Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and Information Display and Entertainment
Association (IDEA).
Prior to coming to Virginia Tech, Reed-Francois oversaw the football,
women’s basketball and volleyball programs at Cincinnati in addition to the
sports communications, marketing and promotions and video services and
production departments. She also led the department’s strategic planning
initiatives and assisted in management of external partnerships.
During her more than 17 years in intercollegiate athletics administration,
Reed-Francois has occupied positions at the University of California, San
Jose State, Santa Clara, Fresno State and the University of San Francisco.
Prior to that, she held numerous positions of progressive leadership,
including working as a legal associate for the Oakland Raiders and serving
in a similar position with the NFL’s Management Council.
A 1994 graduate of UCLA, Reed-Francois earned a Juris Doctorate from
the University of Arizona College of Law. She is a member of the California
Bar, taught law classes at Tennessee and Santa Clara University and is
involved on the national level, serving as a Division I-A Fellow and presenting
at the NACDA Mentoring Institute and the NACWAA, NACMA, NACDA
and CoSIDA annual meetings.
Reed-Francois lives in Blacksburg with her husband, Joshua, and
son, Jackson.
Whit Babcock
Director of Athletics
Desiree Reed-Francois
Deputy Director
of Athletics/Senior
Woman Administrator
Tom Gabbard
Senior Associate Athletics
Director for Facilities
& Operations
John Ballein
Senior Associate Athletics
Director for Internal Operations
& Sports Performance
Reyna Gilbert-Lowry
Senior Associate Athletics
Director for Student-Athlete
Development
Chris Helms
Senior Associate Athletics Director
for Administration
& Sports Programs
Bill Lansden
Senior Associate Athletics Director
for Development & Executive
Director, Hokie Club
Tim Parker
Senior Associate Athletics Director
for Compliance & Governance
Lisa Rudd
Senior Associate Athletics Director
for Finance & Administration
Carmela Smith
Assistant to the
Athletics Director
ATHLETICS EXECUTIVE STAFF
DEPARTMENT
DIRECTORY
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS/
SENIOR WOMAN ADMINISTRATOR