Some new faces in the neighborhood

December 2, 2024 Andy Furman

Kiara Bell. Photo courtesy of LIU

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So, you had some questions – who were those new faces that showed at your Thanksgiving Day dinner?

If you are a fan of local collegiate sports, the names may ring a bell. Some work behind the scenes at Brooklyn’s institutes of higher learning.

Today, you will have the opportunity to meet them:

Richard Reynolds is the new women’s soccer coach at St. Joseph’s University, Brooklyn. Reynolds, who joined the program for the 2024 fall season, takes over for Patrick Horne – he served as an assistant coach this season.

“Rich developed a strong rapport with our women’s soccer student athletes this past season,” announced Director of Athletics and Recreation Megan Valentine last week.

Reynolds brings over 15 years of coaching experience and specializes in goalkeeping. In addition to his coaching duties at St. Joseph’s, he is the director of and coaches goalkeeping sat Trinity High School in Manhattan. He holds the same role with Union SC, a United Premier Soccer League club, based in New Jersey. From 2017 to 2021 he also had a stints with the Progressive Youth Soccer Club and Versa Soccer Academy. He was also the senior and junior goalkeeping coach at SV Robinwood; the most successful club in Suriname. He also held the position at Excelsior FC, also in Suriname, Alpha United and Slinzers FC of Guyana, and Fort Road FC in Antigua and Barbuda.

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The LIU women’s basketball program has announced the hiring of associate head coach Terrence Slater; assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Devin Hill, Assistant coach Kiara Bell, and video coordinator/player development Samantha Bailey.

Salter comes to LIU after serving as associate head coach for Western Michigan during the 2023-24 season. Previously, he was women’s basketball head coach at Kentucky State amassing a 93-69 record. During his tenure, Slater coached four All-Conference players and two All-Tournament players; helped his team advance to the conference championship game twice, and become SIAC West Division Regular Season Champions in 2014-15.

After stints with Queens College, DME Sports Academy, Putnam Science Academy, Hill joined South Shore Christian Academy as Athletic Director and Head Girls Prep Basketball Coach in 2023, where his recruiting efforts led to the signing of the first Division 1 athletes in school history.

Bell joins the Sharks after playing professionally, having suited-up for Riva Basket in Switzerland during the 2023-24 season. She averaged 18.8 points and 13 rebounds. Before going pro, Bell earned both Defensive Player and Newcomer of the Year honors for UMBC as a graduate student. Previously, she enjoyed a four-year collegiate career at LIU, appearing in 88 games through four seasons.

“Kiara’s dedication to the program was truly remarkable,” said Sharks’ coach Rene Haynes, making the announcement prior to the season. “She not only led by example, but also played with immense pride and passion, making her a fan favorite. Her strong presence in defense and relentless rebounding made her an invaluable asset,” the coach continued. “We are thrilled to welcome back her wealth of experience as a professional athlete, and we truly appreciate her continued investment in the program.”

Bailey’s time at LIU continues after playing as a graduate student in 2023-24. She appeared in 26 games for the Sharks, averaging 5.4 points. Previously, she spent four years at Marist, serving as captain her a senior year and earning MAAC Athlete All-Academic Team honors three times.

Some are new to the borough; some are newcomers to their school – and all are new to their positions.

Andy Furman is a Fox Sports Radio national talk show host. Previously, he was a scholastic sports columnist for the Brooklyn Eagle. He may be reached at: [email protected] Twitter: @AndyFurmanFSR