R. Ken Coit Director of Athletics Desireé Reed-Francois Receives Five-Year Contract Extension
10/01/2026 | General
TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Arizona has extended the contract of R. Ken Coit Director of Athletics Desireé Reed-Francois.
The five-year contract runs through March 2, 2032.
"Desireé Reed-Francois has established a standard at Arizona Athletics that is remarkable in every measure, from historic competitive achievements to outstanding academic performance and record fundraising," said President Suresh Garimella. "We are delighted she will continue in her leadership role. She and the coaching and athletics staff have made this department a source of pride for our entire university community, and we are fortunate to have her fostering this culture of excellence and integrity for our student-athletes."
Reed-Francois, a 1997 alumna of Arizona's James E. Rogers College of Law, has presided over a period of unprecedented competitive, academic and fundraising success since she returned to Arizona in 2024.
"I am honored to continue serving the University of Arizona and Arizona Athletics," Reed-Francois said. "Collectively, we understand the power of Arizona Athletics and what it means to our campus, our community and our alumni around the world. We will continue to pursue championships, graduate future leaders and make Wildcat Nation proud. I am grateful for the incredible support of President Garimella and the Board of Regents, and our coaches and staff who work tirelessly to help our student-athletes excel in competition and in the classroom."
This past July, Arizona captured the Big 12 Commissioner's Cup for the first time in school history, a conference recognition awarded to the school that achieved the greatest comprehensive competitive success over the prior year. During the 2025-26 school year, men's basketball returned to the NCAA Final Four, the women's triathlon team captured its second straight Women's Collegiate National Championship; the Wildcats won Big 12 regular season and tournament titles in men's basketball in addition to the men's tennis regular season crown; men's golf advanced to the NCAA Final Four, while men's tennis earned its first-ever NCAA Elite Eight berth; football won nine games, the Territorial Cup and earned a Holiday Bowl berth; women's track and field posted its highest NCAA outdoor finish in 13 years; and volleyball earned its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018.
Overall, 18 Arizona programs earned postseason berths. Since Reed-Francois' arrival, Arizona has captured 11 regular season or tournament conference championships across all sports.
In the classroom, Arizona student-athletes twice set a semester grade point average record during the 2025-26 school year, registering a 3.412 GPA in the fall before eclipsing that mark with a 3.413 GPA in the spring. Arizona posted an NCAA Graduation Success Rate of 92 percent, and a school record of 12 programs earned a perfect NCAA Academic Progress Rate score of 1,000. Arizona student-athletes contributed more than 3,300 hours of community service in 2025-26, and postgraduate employment has increased from 74 percent in spring 2023 to 95 percent in fall 2025.
Arizona Athletics set fundraising records this past fiscal year, including securing more than $87 million in venue naming rights and $46 million raised through the Wildcat Club. The fundraising mark was approximately $5 million above the prior record set in 2022 and exceeded the nine-year annual fundraising average by nearly $16 million.
This fall, Arizona Athletics significantly improved the fan experience by upgrading the sound and lighting at Casino Del Sol Stadium and McKale Center at ALKEME Arena, expanding football premium seating options, and enhancing the gameday atmosphere at all venues.
Reed-Francois spearheaded the Bear Down Blueprint project, which has driven increased outreach, strategic investment and revenue generation to significantly strengthen the athletics department's long-term financial position while adapting to the evolving landscape of college athletics.
Before arriving in Tucson, Reed-Francois served as the Director of Athletics at UNLV (2017-21) and the University of Missouri (2021-24), where she was named the 2023–24 NACDA Athletics Director of the Year. She has also worked in senior athletics leadership positions at Virginia Tech, the University of Cincinnati and the University of Tennessee. Reed-Francois was a student-athlete at UCLA, where she earned her bachelor's degree before receiving her Juris Doctor from Arizona. She is a member of The State Bar of California.
Reed-Francois and her husband, Josh, are the parents of Jackson, a 2026 Arizona graduate and men's basketball letterwinner.
The five-year contract runs through March 2, 2032.
"Desireé Reed-Francois has established a standard at Arizona Athletics that is remarkable in every measure, from historic competitive achievements to outstanding academic performance and record fundraising," said President Suresh Garimella. "We are delighted she will continue in her leadership role. She and the coaching and athletics staff have made this department a source of pride for our entire university community, and we are fortunate to have her fostering this culture of excellence and integrity for our student-athletes."
Reed-Francois, a 1997 alumna of Arizona's James E. Rogers College of Law, has presided over a period of unprecedented competitive, academic and fundraising success since she returned to Arizona in 2024.
"I am honored to continue serving the University of Arizona and Arizona Athletics," Reed-Francois said. "Collectively, we understand the power of Arizona Athletics and what it means to our campus, our community and our alumni around the world. We will continue to pursue championships, graduate future leaders and make Wildcat Nation proud. I am grateful for the incredible support of President Garimella and the Board of Regents, and our coaches and staff who work tirelessly to help our student-athletes excel in competition and in the classroom."
This past July, Arizona captured the Big 12 Commissioner's Cup for the first time in school history, a conference recognition awarded to the school that achieved the greatest comprehensive competitive success over the prior year. During the 2025-26 school year, men's basketball returned to the NCAA Final Four, the women's triathlon team captured its second straight Women's Collegiate National Championship; the Wildcats won Big 12 regular season and tournament titles in men's basketball in addition to the men's tennis regular season crown; men's golf advanced to the NCAA Final Four, while men's tennis earned its first-ever NCAA Elite Eight berth; football won nine games, the Territorial Cup and earned a Holiday Bowl berth; women's track and field posted its highest NCAA outdoor finish in 13 years; and volleyball earned its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018.
Overall, 18 Arizona programs earned postseason berths. Since Reed-Francois' arrival, Arizona has captured 11 regular season or tournament conference championships across all sports.
In the classroom, Arizona student-athletes twice set a semester grade point average record during the 2025-26 school year, registering a 3.412 GPA in the fall before eclipsing that mark with a 3.413 GPA in the spring. Arizona posted an NCAA Graduation Success Rate of 92 percent, and a school record of 12 programs earned a perfect NCAA Academic Progress Rate score of 1,000. Arizona student-athletes contributed more than 3,300 hours of community service in 2025-26, and postgraduate employment has increased from 74 percent in spring 2023 to 95 percent in fall 2025.
Arizona Athletics set fundraising records this past fiscal year, including securing more than $87 million in venue naming rights and $46 million raised through the Wildcat Club. The fundraising mark was approximately $5 million above the prior record set in 2022 and exceeded the nine-year annual fundraising average by nearly $16 million.
This fall, Arizona Athletics significantly improved the fan experience by upgrading the sound and lighting at Casino Del Sol Stadium and McKale Center at ALKEME Arena, expanding football premium seating options, and enhancing the gameday atmosphere at all venues.
Reed-Francois spearheaded the Bear Down Blueprint project, which has driven increased outreach, strategic investment and revenue generation to significantly strengthen the athletics department's long-term financial position while adapting to the evolving landscape of college athletics.
Before arriving in Tucson, Reed-Francois served as the Director of Athletics at UNLV (2017-21) and the University of Missouri (2021-24), where she was named the 2023–24 NACDA Athletics Director of the Year. She has also worked in senior athletics leadership positions at Virginia Tech, the University of Cincinnati and the University of Tennessee. Reed-Francois was a student-athlete at UCLA, where she earned her bachelor's degree before receiving her Juris Doctor from Arizona. She is a member of The State Bar of California.
Reed-Francois and her husband, Josh, are the parents of Jackson, a 2026 Arizona graduate and men's basketball letterwinner.
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