6/27/25
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – The Lackawanna College Athletics Department is pleased to announce that women's volleyball head coach Shelby Reese has been elevated to the Senior Woman Administrator/Assistant Athletic Director of Student-Athlete's Success role in the department, effective as of Friday, June 27^th.
 
"Shelby brings a unique combination of experience, leadership, and a deep commitment to student-athlete success," said Erik Larson, Director of Athletics. "Her passion for equity in athletics and her ability to connect with our coaches and students make her the ideal person to serve as our Senior Woman Administrator."
 
Reese, who will remain as the head coach for Lackawanna women's volleyball, is excited to move into this new leadership role within the department.
 
"Stepping into the role of Senior Woman Administrator/Assistant Athletic Director of Student-Athlete's Success is both a professional and deeply personal achievement for me," said Reese. "Since the beginning of my career in college athletics, I've always aspired to serve in a role where I could advocate for student-athletes and help shape programming that supports their growth – not just as athletes, but also as people."
 
The Senior Woman Administrator, or SWA, is the "highest-ranking female in each NCAA athletics department or conference office," according to the NCAA. The governing body established the designation in 1981 to "ensure women were involved in the male-dominated administration of college athletics."
 
As the SWA at Lackawanna College, Reese will help serve on committees nationally, participate in eligibility hearings, and help make senior-level decisions within the department.
 
"Shelby will help foster inclusive decision-making, support the development of our coaches and student-athletes, and ensure that our programs continue to grow in a positive and equitable direction," said Larson on Reese's role.
 
"I'm passionate about building initiatives that prepare them (student-athletes) mentally, physically, and socially for life beyond sports," said Reese. "This position is truly an honor."
 
Reese originally joined the college as an Athletic Academic Advisor in the fall of 2021, but additionally took on the role as head coach for women's volleyball in August 2022. She inherited a program that played only a handful of matches in 2021 and had otherwise been dormant since the COVID-19 pandemic. After a tough first season in 2022, Reese saw her team win 14 matches in 2023 and capture the program's first Region XIX championship in 17 years. The 2024 Falcons fell short of their title hopes, but still won 17 matches, made the championship round, and had the program's first-ever All-American, Jana Hofmann (Colorado Springs, CO), who also won Region XIX Division II Player of the Year.
 
Before coming to Lackawanna College, Reese was the head coach at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA for seven seasons. There, she took a 3-22 team from the year before her arrival and turned the program into a perennial conference contender, winning 20 matches in 2021 and capturing a conference title and an NCAA tournament appearance at the Division III level. She was 86-63 in her time at Cedar Crest, where she was also the Outdoor/Indoor Operations Coordinator for four years within the athletics department.
 
Reese's promotion comes at a time of great excitement for Lackawanna College Athletics, as the department has just recently announced its invitation and intention to join the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and become an NCAA Division II program. You can read that full press release and announcement HERE.
 
"With our transition to the NCAA and the merger with Peirce College, we're entering a transformative era at Lackawanna College," said Reese, "And I'm thrilled to be a part of it, especially within such a dynamic and forward-thinking athletics department. I want to thank Athletic Director Erik Larson for the opportunity to join the athletic leadership team in this capacity."
 
"As we prepare for our transition to a four-year NCAA institution, Shelby's leadership as SWA will be instrumental," said Larson. "She will play a key role in aligning our policies and practices with NCAA standards, while ensuring that our student-athletes continue to thrive academically, athletically, and personally during this exciting new chapter."
 
Reese is 33-32 in her three years at Lackawanna College as women's volleyball coach, winning 31 matches in her last two seasons, alone. She understands the impact this moment of transition has for the volleyball program.
 
"I'm excited to continue leading our volleyball program during such a pivotal time. With the ability to now recruit and retain four-year athletes, we're entering a new phase of growth," said Reese, "Our program has taken many positive steps over the past few years, and we're eager to keep building on that momentum!"