GREENVILLE, Pa. (March 10) -- The Thiel College Athletic Department is proud to begin a monthly series of Alumni Spotlight's to honor and recognize Thiel alums having success not just in the athletic realm, but in the world as well.

We begin this series highlighting Cimone Reid '15, head women's basketball coach at Penn State Shenango, and Jessica Lovell '17, head women's basketball coach at Penn State Greater Allegheny.

Cimone Reid '15
Reid is in her fourth season as the head coach at Shenango. The 2024-25 season marks the second consecutive United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division II Women's Small College Basketball National Championship Tournament appearance for the Lions, a first in program history. After notching 10 wins in her first season, Reid's teams have racked up at least 16 wins in the last three campaigns.

Shenango has faced off against Thiel and former teammate Jessica Vormelker '19 in each of the last two seasons in addition to going up against Lowell's Lions twice this year. For Reid, it is a special honor to coach against those she was fortunate enough to play with.

"Coaching against both Jessica's this season was a special moment for me, and I am so proud of the women and coaches that they are," Reid said. "Since the start of my college coaching career, I have coached against three of my former college teammates in Kelly Muffley (Allegheny), Vormelker and Lovell. That is truly unprecedented and to be able to share the court with those women again years after our playing days have come to an end is so special."

Reid grew up with basketball around her and made an easy transition into the coaching realm.

"My dad, Shawn, introduced me to the game as a little girl, and I was determined to not only play but to learn the ins and outs of the game," Reid noted. "I was also fortunate enough to have great coaches throughout my career who helped me develop as a person and a basketball player. Going into coaching was a natural transition from playing for me because I love being able to pay forward the lessons and love of the game that was given to me."

Jessica Lovell '17
Lovell is in her first season as the Greater Allegheny head coach. Lovell's squad picked up there first Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) victory on Dec. 7, a 63-43 throttling of Penn State Scranton. She was a four-year women's basketball team member at Thiel and started all 25 games in her senior season.

Lovell credits getting into coaching to Reid, who nudged her in that direction.

"Cimone is actually the reason i made it to Penn State Greater Allegheny as a coach," she said. "I've always loved the game of basketball since I was 6 years old and always thought about coaching but never really wanted to take the step outside of my comfort zone to get there."

Lovell cherishes and recognizes that her relationship with Reid wasn't a short-term college pairing, but rather a life-long bond and connection.

"She took me under her wing as soon as I stepped on Thiel's campus and she hasn't stopped doing that for me since," Lovell said. "I feel honored to coach against her and hope we can continue this for years to come."