4.12.2011

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University Director of Athletics Troy Austin has announced that Bill Reinson is the school's new Women's Basketball Head Coach. Reinson has served as the interim head coach since December 6, and led the Lancers to a record of 6-17 over the final 23 games, including four losses by four points or less among eight losses by nine points or less. A native of Mesa, Arizona, he had been an assistant with the men's team at Longwood since September, 2002 and has 11 years of collegiate coaching experience with three post-season appearances. Reinson becomes the program's eighth head coach since 1970 and replaces Kristin Caruso. Longwood and Reinson have agreed to a new multi-year contract.

“I am very happy to announce the promotion of Coach Bill Reinson,” said Austin. “Bill has faithfully served Longwood for the past nine years, and this past winter, he accepted the difficult task of assuming leadership of the women's basketball program at mid-year. In that role, he lifted team morale and their performance showed improvement. During the interview process, he presented an exciting vision for the future of our women's basketball program.”

Reinson won his first game with the team after just five days when Longwood defeated Wright State University 74-70 at Willett Hall on Dec. 11. He also led the Lancers to an 82-77 home win past the College of William and Mary, a two-game sweep of Big South Conference member UNC Asheville (76-66, 77-73), a 77-65 home win past post-season Women's Basketball Invitational runners-up CSU Bakersfield, and a last-minute setback to 13-time Big South Tournament Champion Liberty University (71-75). Longwood also avenged a road loss at Savannah State University (34-60) with a home win past the Tigers (47-37) just two weeks later.

“I love Longwood University,” stated Reinson. “It has been a lifelong dream of mine to be a Division I head coach and I am grateful for the opportunity and excited about the chance to build a very successful women's basketball program here at Longwood. I would like to thank President Patrick Finnegan and Troy Austin for showing faith in me, as well as everyone else who supported me during this process.”

Reinson previously served two seasons (2000-02) as an assistant men's coach at UNC Greensboro under head coach Fran McCaffery (now the head coach at the University of Iowa). The Spartans went 39-23 overall, winning the 2001 Southern Conference Tournament Championship, earning one NCAA Tournament appearance (2001) and one National Invitation Tournament (NIT) appearance (2002). Additionally, he served as an assistant women's coach with the Lancers for the final 13 games of 2002-03 (27-5) under long-time head coach Shirley Duncan during the final year of Division II eligibility. Longwood was 11-2 in those games while winning the CVAC Tournament and advancing to the second-round of the NCAA Tournament East Regional.

Reinson earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. He and his wife, Lana, have seven daughters: Megan (25), Bria (20), Taylor (16), twins Ashley (11) and Brittany (11), Krystal (10), and Mia (6) along with three sons: Dominic (13), Niko (12) and Spiros (10).