Women's Basketball
- Position:
- Associate Head Coach
Follow Coach Vonn Read on Twitter
Read joined the Cougars coaching staff in May 2022 after serving as the acting head coach for Syracuse women's basketball during the 2021-22 season.
Under Read's leadership, Syracuse finished its season ranked No. 4 in the nation in free throw percentage (.804) and 23rd in steals (294). The Orange led the ACC in free throw percentage, steals, steals per game (10.1), and was second in three-point field goals made (221), three-pointers per game (7.6), and turnovers forced (19.2).
"I am extremely blessed and excited to be a part of the women's basketball program at the University of Houston under the tremendous leadership of Coach Hughey," Read said. "I believe in his vision of excellence and championships, and I look forward to working with our student-athletes and staff."
Before being named the acting head coach, Read helped develop the Orange's defensive and offensive systems which is predicated on creating more possessions, forcing turnovers and maximizing points per possession. While on staff during the 2015-16 season, Syracuse advanced to the Final Four for the first time in program history before playing in the 2016 National Champion game against UConn. Read helped lead the Orange to the NCAA Tournament in eight straight seasons.
Prior to Syracuse, Read served as an assistant coach at Albany from 2008-10 and at Kentucky from 2005-08. In his first season with the Wildcats, the team posted a win against top-ranked Tennessee and advanced to the 2006 NCAA Tournament.
Before his tenure at Kentucky, Read served as an assistant coach for the United States Basketball League's Dodge City Legend in 2005, helping the team win the league title. He spent the 2004 WNBA season as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Silver Stars under former NBA standout Dee Brown.
Prior to his stop in San Antonio, Read spent five seasons with the Orlando Magic (1999-2004). He worked in video scouting for the first two seasons in Orlando, then spent his last three years as an advance scout. In 2001, he served as an assistant coach for the team's summer league squad. While with the Magic, Read held various positions with WNBA teams. In 2003, he was an advance scout for the Charlotte Sting. Read was an assistant coach for the Orlando Miracle in 2002 and Phoenix Mercury in 2000.
Read got his start as a coach as an assistant at Spelman College in Atlanta from 1997-99. In his time at Spelman, he also worked at Turner Sports as a senior archivist and production assistant for NBA telecasts.
Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Read served in the United States Army from 1989-93 at Fort Drum, N.Y., and Fort Lee, Va.
A talented writer, Read has published six basketball playbooks, which are in a series called "The Basketball Encyclopedia." He also has published numerous articles for various basketball publications.
A native of Milwaukee, Wisc., Read graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science from Clark Atlanta in 1997, where he was a member of the tennis team. He and his wife, Cincereru, have a son Brandon, and a daughter April.
