2026 IT Summit Keynote
Meet the leader joining us as the 2026 IT Summit keynote speaker.
Keynote Speaker
Desireé Reed-Francois
R. Ken Coit Director of Athletics
University of Arizona
About Desireé Reed-Francois
Desireé Reed-Francois serves as the R. Ken Coit Director of Athletics at the University of Arizona, leading one of the most successful periods in department history. Arizona Athletics has achieved record revenue and academic outcomes under her leadership while elevating competitive excellence, including a Men’s Basketball Final Four run, a College World Series appearance, two national championships in Triathlon, and multiple conference titles. In just over a year, the department secured $87.7 million in combined venue naming rights—among the most significant in college athletics—while reducing the budget deficit she inherited and strengthening the department’s long-term financial model through strategic partnerships and disciplined operations. Previously, she served as Director of Athletics at Missouri and UNLV, where she built a national reputation as an accomplished fundraiser and leader who prioritizes the student-athlete experience and hires championship-caliber coaches. Her leadership at Missouri earned her NACDA Athletic Director of the Year honors. She currently serves as President of the FBS Athletics Directors Association and is a member of the NCAA Division I Cabinet. Reed-Francois and her husband, Josh, are proud parents of 2026 Arizona graduate and Men’s Basketball letterwinner Jackson. She earned her bachelor’s degree at UCLA and her Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona.