Karen Perry Reynolds - 1999

Karen Perry Reynolds is a native of Mississippi and a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, where she earned a bachelor’s degree and a master of education in health, physical education and recreation.  She also holds an educational specialists degree from the University of Alabama. 

After earning her master’s degree, she joined the faculty of Jefferson Davis Community College, as an instructor in 1967.  She became chair of the health and physical education division in 1996, and also was named athletic director in that year. 

She began coaching both men’s and women’s tennis in 1975, and also has coached women’s basketball and women’s softball. 

Her overall coaching record for the men’s tennis team is 220-125.  Her teams made national tournament appearances in 1987, 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994, and captured the Region 23 Division II Championship in 1993. 

The men’s team was the NJCAA Academic team of the year in 1997 with a cumulative GPA of 3.58. 

Her women’s tennis team record is 211-115.  Under her leadership, the women’s team has made seven national tournament appearances in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1994.  The women’s team was a Region 22 Runner up in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1994. 

Ms Reynolds currently serves as the Region XXII director for the National Junior Athletic Association, a position she held since 1990.  She chairs the NJCAA women’s standing committees.  She has been a member of the Alabama College Athletic Conference’s executive committee since 1990, and chairs the state’s Tennis Coaches Association. 

Her involvement in athletics extends beyond the campus and into the community, where she also has made a significant impact as a volunteer. She has served as an active member of the board’s vice chairman.  She also serves on the City of Brewton Sports committee.  In 1994 she worked with the Brewton Babe Ruth baseball State Tournament Committee, and served as director for the Greater Brewton Area Tennis Tournament from 1972 – 1979. 

Karen also has worked as director of health and fitness workshop for the Brewton Community outreach Center, was an instructor for the Alabama Tennis Academy from 1983 – 1989 and from 1992 – 1997; was an instructor for the Gulf Coast Tennis Academy form 1986 – 1990; and has taught water baby swimming, first, tennis and lifeguard training in the community. 

She and her husband, Jefferson Davis Community College humanities chair Dr. Mark Reynolds; have one son, Greg who is in medical school.