Bio

Reid Walling enters his third season as head women's basketball coach at Spartanburg Methodist College, having guided the Pioneers through one of the most successful stretches in the program's transition to the NAIA. Since arriving at SMC, Walling has established a culture centered on player development, accountability, competitive excellence, and success both on and off the court.

During the 2025–26 season, Walling led the Pioneers to a 17-14 overall record and a second consecutive appearance in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament semifinals. SMC won 13 games away from home and put together a six-game winning streak—the program's longest since the 2023–24 campaign—while continuing to establish itself as one of the AAC's emerging programs.

The Pioneers' postseason run was highlighted by one of the most memorable moments in recent school history: senior Halle Traylor connected on a game-winning shot at the buzzer in the AAC Tournament quarterfinals to propel SMC into the semifinals. Traylor capped her stellar career by earning All-Tournament Team honors and Second Team All-AAC recognition, while also receiving both the Trailblazer Award and Pinnacle Pioneer Award at Spartanburg Methodist's Big Blue Night of Excellence.

Under Walling's leadership, senior Destiny Middleton earned First Team All-AAC honors and was named the Outstanding Pioneer Award recipient, recognizing excellence in competition, academics, and leadership. Senior Zy Bell was selected to the AAC All-Defensive Team, sophomore Krystal Johnson received the Emerging Athlete Award, and junior La'Tavius Wilson was honored as SMC's AAC Champions of Character recipient.

The 2025–26 season also marked a historic milestone for the program as seniors Najah Gilliam and Zy Bell became the first four-year players in Spartanburg Methodist women's basketball history, appearing in 104 and 95 career games, respectively. The team's accomplishments culminated with the Pioneers being recognized as Spartanburg Methodist College's Women's Team of the Year.

Walling made an immediate impact during his first season in 2024–25, leading the Pioneers to the Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) Tournament semifinals in the program's inaugural NAIA campaign. SMC's quarterfinal victory over Carolina secured the first postseason win of the NAIA era and laid the foundation for the program's continued growth. Destiny Middleton earned CAC All-Tournament Team and Second Team All-Conference honors, while JaiDah Liebert also received Second Team All-Conference recognition.

In just two seasons, Walling has guided Spartanburg Methodist to consecutive conference tournament semifinal appearances while developing multiple all-conference performers, academic leaders, and award recipients. His teams have become known for their resilience, defensive intensity, and ability to compete at a high level in postseason play, establishing a rock-solid foundation for the future of Pioneer women's basketball.