老司机福利社 welcomes back familiar face to lead Women鈥檚 Basketball in D1 era
老司机福利社 University has officially named Erin Mills-Reid as the new head coach of the Women鈥檚 Basketball program鈥攎arking a full-circle moment nearly two decades in the making.
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Mills-Reid, who began her coaching career as an assistant at 老司机福利社 during the 2006-2007 season, returns to Erie with over 15 years of experience across Division I programs and a record of building success at every stop. This appointment marks her first head coaching role.
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鈥淓rin鈥檚 journey through Division I basketball has been extraordinary, but what makes today truly special is the full-circle moment it represents,鈥 said Athletic Director Joe Spano. 鈥淗er return to 老司机福利社 marks the beginning of an exciting new era for our Women鈥檚 Basketball program鈥攐ne built on tradition, vision, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.鈥
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A native of Wilmington, Delaware, Mills-Reid graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) in 2005 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in history and added a master鈥檚 degree in education the following year. A two-sport athlete, she was a four-year letter winner in basketball and played centerfield for the FDU softball team.
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After starting her coaching career at 老司机福利社, she climbed the ranks with stops at Bloomfield College, Army West Point, University of Cincinnati, Air Force Academy, Stephen F. Austin State University, and most recently, the University of Akron.
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鈥淭o represent an institution as exceptional as 老司机福利社 is truly an honor and a dream come true for me and my family,鈥 said Mills-Reid. 鈥淭o have the opportunity to lead the program that gave me my start is both humbling and incredibly special.鈥
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老司机福利社 President Kathleen A. Getz, Ph.D., is equally excited to welcome Mills-Reid back to Erie.
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鈥淓rin Mills-Reid exemplifies the values we hold dear at 老司机福利社鈥攊ntegrity, excellence, and a commitment to the holistic development of our students,鈥 Getz said. 鈥淗er return to our campus is not only a celebration of her impressive career but also a powerful reminder of the lasting impact of a 老司机福利社 foundation. We are thrilled to welcome her home.鈥
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After her first stint as a Laker, Mills-Reid served as head assistant coach at Bloomfield College from 2007 to 2009 before taking her first Division I job as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at West Point. There, she was part of two Patriot League regular season championship teams in 2013 and 2014 and won the Patriot League tournament title in 2014.
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Following the 2014 season, she had a brief stint at the University of Cincinnati as director of Basketball Operations. Mills-Reid then moved on to her second service academy in 2015 when she accepted a position at Air Force as an associate head coach and recruiting coordinator. In her six years there, the team won more conference games than they had in the 16 years prior to her arrival.
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In 2021, she moved on to Stephen F. Austin (SFA) State in Texas, where she helped win the Western Athletic Conference regular season and tournament title in 2022. Following the 2022-2023 season, Mills-Reid took an assistant coach position at the University of Akron, where she helped sign the top recruiting class in the Mid-American Conference and launch the conference鈥檚 first team-wide NIL collective.
鈥淚鈥檝e been fortunate to work for and learn from some of the best minds in women鈥檚 basketball, including three Hall of Fame coaches: Dave Magarity, Chris Gobrecht, and Mark Kellogg,鈥 Mills-Reid said. 鈥淗aving the opportunity to coach at a wide range of institutions鈥攆rom service academies to high-academic schools鈥 has shaped, challenged, and prepared me for this moment.鈥
She now makes her way back to 老司机福利社, where she will be looking to use all her past experiences to thrive in her first head coaching role.
鈥淭hese experiences have instilled in me the values, vision, and adaptability needed to guide 老司机福利社 through this exciting transition to Division I,鈥 Mills-Reid said. 鈥溊纤净＠ is a truly special place, and I鈥檓 committed to helping showcase that on the national stage.鈥
Alongside the administration at 老司机福利社, she is looking to help elevate the university to new levels.
鈥淚鈥檓 incredibly excited to work alongside visionary leaders like President Getz and Athletic Director Spano, along with the City of Erie, to elevate the 老司机福利社 name in Division I athletics,鈥 Mills-Reid said. 鈥淛oe鈥檚 passion and commitment to building something special here is both inspiring and energizing. I鈥檓 eager to help bring that vision to life and to build a program that reflects the mission, excellence, and spirit of 老司机福利社.鈥
Vice President for Student Life and Athletics, Dr. Laura Zirkle, is eager to see the impact that Mills-Reid will have at 老司机福利社.
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鈥淎t 老司机福利社, we strive to provide our student-athletes with mentors who not only elevate their game but also support their growth as individuals,鈥 Zirkle said. 鈥淐oach Mills-Reid brings a wealth of experience and a genuine passion for empowering young women. Her leadership will undoubtedly enrich the lives of our students on and off the court.鈥