Desiree Reed-Francois

Desiree is a 1994 graduate of UCLA, where she was a member of the rowing team.[2] She earned a Juris Doctorate from Arizona in 1997 and became a member of the California Bar.[3]

Reed-Francois held sports administration positions at California, San Jose State, Santa Clara, Fresno State, and the University of San Francisco.[2][4] She spent four years at University of Tennessee, becoming Deputy Athletics Director and senior administrator for the men's basketball program.[3][5]

In March 2013, she was named Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator for the University of Cincinnati,[5] later serving as interim athletic director.[6] Reed-Francois joined Virginia Tech in May 2014, eventually overseeing the football program.[6] At the time, she was one of four women with day-to-day oversight of a Power Five program.[7]

Reed-Francois was announced as the UNLV athletic director in April 2017.[8][9][2] She received a contract through 2022 with an annual salary of $350,000, which also included oversight of both Thomas & Mack Center and Sam Boyd Stadium.[10][11] Reed-Francois became the first Hispanic woman to lead a Football Bowl Subdivision program as a full-time athletic director.[7][12]

Reed-Francois has taught sports law at multiple institutions.[3]

Reed-Francois is of Mexican and English descent.[13] She is married to Joshua. The couple have a son named Jackson.[11]

List of NCAA Division I athletic directors

• UNLV Rebels bio
• Cincinnati Bearcats bio
• Tennessee Volunteers bio
• Virginia Tech Hokies bio