Three New Inductees Honored for 2024 ETBU Athletics Hall of Fame

MARSHALL, Texas – Three inductees were honored on Saturday, October 12, as they entered the East Texas Baptist University Athletics Hall of Fame. Jasmin (Manson) McDowell (Volleyball), Mike Reed (Baseball/Softball), and Kent Reeves (Women’s Basketball & Softball Coach/Administrator) are the new members of the ETBU Athletic Hall of Fame.

These three inductees have impacted ETBU, the East Texas area, and the collegiate level. From winning conference championships as players and coaches to administering and leading student-athletes and winning national championships, these three inductees have represented ETBU well. 

JASMIN (MANSON) McDOWELL | VOLLEYBALL

Jasmine (Manson) McDowell came to East Texas Baptist University in the Fall of 2003 where she lettered for the Tiger Volleyball team for four years (2003-06). In her first season with the Tigers, Jasmine helped the program win its third consecutive American Southwest Conference tournament championship. 

By the seasons, Jasmine produced 324 kills in 2003, 490 in 2004, 404 in 2005, and 501 in 2006, bringing her career kills total to 1,719. This makes her second all-time in career kills in program history. She is also ninth in the record books for career blocks (204). Jasmine was selected to the All-ASC team and All-ASC East First Team in the 2004 and 2006 seasons. 

Jasmine graduated from East Texas Baptist University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Education, focusing on English, Language Arts, and Reading. She currently serves as the principal at Gilmer Intermediate School. 

She has taught many grade levels, coached the club for Wrecking Crew Volleyball, and served as an Assistant Head Coach in Gilmer in volleyball, basketball, and track. She has also served as an MTSS Coordinator and Assistant Principal at Gilmer High School. Her career history spans 17 years.

 Jasmine is married to Brandon McDowell, and together, they have four children: Aiden and Ayla Cunningham and BJ and Brionna McDowell. They also have two grandsons, Khalil and Zaire.

Team Accomplishments

• ASC Tournament Qualifier – 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
• 20+ Win Seasons – 2003, 2004, 2005

Awards

• All-ASC (2004, 2006)
• All-ASC East First Team (2004, 2006)
• All-ASC East Second Team (2005)

Records

• Career Kills – 2nd (1,719)
• Career Blocks - 9th (204)
• 400-Kill Club – 2004 (490), 2005 (404), 2006 (501)

Stats

• 2003: 124 SP, 324 K (2.61 ps), 3 A, 33 SA, 29 D, 61 Blks
• 2004: 110 SP, 490 K (4.45 ps), 7 A, 31 SA, 70 D, 44 Blks
• 2005: 111 SP, 404 K (3.64 ps), 15 A, 4 SA, 38 D, 67 Blks
• 2006: 108 SP, 501 K (4.64 ps), 2 A, 0 SA, 41 D, 32 Blks
• Total: 453 SP, 1,719 K (3.79 ps), 27 A, 68 SA, 178 D, 204 Blks

MIKE REED | BASEBALL, SOFTBALL

Mike Reed came to East Texas Baptist University in the fall of 1993 from Clarksville, Texas. He lettered for the Tiger Baseball team for four years (1994-97), leaving his mark all over the record books. He currently ranks 4th in wins (16), 3rd in games pitched (57), 6th in innings pitched (194.1), and 6th in starts (31). 

Reed graduated from ETBU in 1997 with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration. He entered the business world after graduation, but after two years, he returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach for the baseball and softball teams. Not long after that, he was offered the position of head softball coach at ETBU. He coached the Tiger Softball program for three seasons (2001, 2002, 2003) and won three consecutive American Southwest Conference championships. Through those three seasons, he amassed a record of 105-31, placing him third for most wins in program history. 

Following the 2003 season, Mike accepted the head softball coach’s position at UT Tyler, where he still serves as head coach at the time of his induction. In his 20 years at the helm of the UT Tyler softball program, he has 919 wins and only 182 losses. Most notably, in his coaching career, he led UT Tyler to bring home the NCAA Division III National Championship in 2016 and the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2024. 

Mike and his wife, Amanda, who was inducted into the ETBU Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012 and was a three-time All-American softball player for the Tigers, have three children, Garrett, Gavin, and Rylee Paige. 

Team Coaching Accomplishments (Softball) at ETBU

• 2003 – 30-13, ASC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament
• 2002 – 38-8, ASC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament, ASC East Coach of the Year
• 2001 – 37-10, ASC Tournament Champions, ASC East Coach of the Year

Team Coaching Accomplishments (Softball) at UT Tyler

• Over 900 career wins
• 2016 NCAA Division III National Champions
• 2024 NCAA Division II National Champions

Awards (Coaching)

• ASC East Coach of the Year (ETBU) - 2002, 2003
• ASC East Coach of the Year (UT Tyler) - 2010, 2012, 2013
• ASC Coach of the Year (UT Tyler) - 2014, 2015, 1026
• 8-time NFCA Regional Coach of the Year

Records (Baseball)

• Career Games Pitched - 3rd (57)
• Career Wins - 4th (16)
• Career Innings Pitched - 6th (194.1)
• Career Starts - 6th (31)

KENT REEVES | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL/SOFTBALL COACH; ETBU ADMINISTRATOR

Kent Reeves arrived at East Texas Baptist University in 1987 as the Head Women’s Basketball coach. In his 10 years as Head Coach of the Lady Tigers, he amassed 206 wins, and his teams advanced to nine NAIA postseason appearances. Following the 1996-97 season, Reeves stepped down from coaching women’s basketball to assume full-time duties as the ETBU Athletic Director. While serving as the Athletic Director, Kent started the softball program at ETBU and served double duties from 1998-2000 as both the Athletic Director and Head Softball Coach. That 2000 season culminated with the softball program’s first American Southwest Conference (ASC) Championship. He returned to the softball dugout for three more seasons (2004, 2006, 2007), finishing his stint as a softball coach with 183 wins.

Under Reeves’ 18 years of leadership as the athletic director, the ETBU athletic department grew from just five sports in 1997 to fourteen in 2014. He was integral in transitioning Tiger Athletics from NAIA to NCAA Division III membership in 1998-99 and joining the ASC. With his guidance, the Tigers won 14 conference titles and 18 division titles and claimed the university’s first NCAA Division III National Championship in Softball in 2010. 

Among the ETBU record books, Kent is the winningest women’s basketball coach and second in softball wins behind current Head Coach Janae Shirley. In addition, Reeves was instrumental in the development of future head coaches who went on to win National Championships, including Shirley, NCAA Division III Softball National Champion in 2010 and 2024 at ETBU, Mike Reed, NCAA Division III Softball National Champion in 2016, and NCAA Division II Softball National Champion in 2024 at UT Tyler, and Michael Landers, NJCAA Women’s Basketball National Champion in 2004 and 2012 at Trinity Valley Community College. 

Kent has been married to Mary Beth Reeves for 45 years. They have two daughters, Kendra Skipworth and Taylor Jeffrey. They also have two granddaughters, Mary-Kate Skipworth and Cara Jeffrey, and one grandson, Max Skipworth. 

Team Coaching Accomplishments

• ETBU Women's Basketball Coach (1987-1997)
• 206 Career Wins (Women's Basketball) - Most All-Time
• N9 NAIA Post Season Appearances (Women's Basketball)
• Started Softball Program in 2000
• ETBU Softball Coach (2000, 2004, 2006-07)
• 183 Career Wins (Softball) - 2nd All-Time
• 2000, 2004 ASC Tournament Champions

Administrator

• 18 years as ETBU Athletic Director
• Grew athletic department from five sports to 14
• Transitioned ETBU from NAIA to NCAA Division III
• In his time, ETBU won 14 conference championships, 18 division titles, and the first-ever NCAA National Championship (2010 softball)
• Developed future head coaches that won two national championships  - Mike Reed (2016 D3, 2024 D2 softball), Janae Shirley (2010, 2024 D3 softball), Michael Landers (2004, 2012 NJCAA women's basketball)