Reggie Lane, 38, Director of EVOLVE and Player Engagement, University of Tennessee

Reggie Lane ensures University of Tennessee at Knoxville athletes are performing well on and off the football field. In his professional role, Lane mentors student-athletes in their personal development, helping them with career goals, relationships and mental health wellness.

To help this generation of University of Tennessee students become the next generation of professionals, Lane cultivates inclusive environments and connects students with the wider Knoxville community.

When you reflect on your career so far, which achievement stands out most?

One of my most meaningful achievements has been mentoring and advising young adults through initiatives like the Black Male Excellence Network and EVOLVE program. Supporting their personal and professional development, watching them overcome obstacles and grow into confident leaders has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve taken pride in fostering connections, providing guidance and witnessing firsthand the transformation of students into impactful, community-oriented individuals. The opportunity to contribute to their journeys and help them realize their potential stands out as a highlight of my career so far.

What is the greatest professional obstacle you’ve had to overcome and how did you overcome it?

The greatest professional obstacle I’ve faced was navigating the impact of COVID-19 on engaging and mentoring young men in leadership development programs. During the pandemic, in-person interactions − essential for building trust and community − were no longer possible. I adapted by leveraging virtual platforms to maintain consistent communication, hosting online workshops and finding creative ways to foster group discussions and connection remotely. Despite challenges, I prioritized accessibility, ensuring that young men still felt supported and connected. This experience taught me the value of adaptability and resilience in maintaining impactful mentorship, even under difficult circumstances.

What will you focus on in 2025?

In 2025, I plan to focus heavily on both my professional and personal development. Professionally, I aim to complete my doctoral studies in leadership, further expanding my knowledge and enhancing my ability to impact higher education positively. Personally, I will prioritize my growth in areas such as mindfulness, wellness and work-life balance to ensure that I am at my best to support others. Additionally, I am committed to creating pathways for others by mentoring young leaders, developing new leadership programs and ensuring that the next generation has the resources and opportunities to thrive.

What is your biggest professional dream?

My biggest professional dream is to become a university president. I aspire to lead an institution that not only excels in academic achievement but also fosters a culture of inclusivity, support, and opportunity for all students. Drawing from my experience in student engagement, leadership programs and athletics, I envision creating an environment where students from diverse backgrounds are empowered to succeed both academically and personally. I want to ensure that universities are places where all young people, especially first-generation and underrepresented students, can find their voices and reach their full potential.

What mistake did you learn the most from?

The mistake I learned the most from is judging a book by its cover. Early in my career, I made assumptions about individuals based on first impressions, often underestimating their capabilities or missing opportunities to connect on a deeper level. This experience taught me the importance of approaching every person with an open mind and a willingness to learn from them. By setting aside preconceived notions, I discovered the value in diverse perspectives and talents that weren’t immediately obvious. It reinforced the idea that true leadership is about understanding and uplifting others without bias.

What motivates you?

The opportunity to mentor others, make a difference and be a role model.

What is the most overrated piece of business advice you’ve heard?

The most overrated piece of business advice I’ve heard is, “Follow your passion, and the money will follow.” While passion is important, it’s not the only factor for success. Relying solely on passion can lead to overlooking practical aspects of life that matter and will play a part in decision-making. Passion should be coupled with a commitment to acquiring the necessary skills and the willingness to adapt when needed. A more balanced approach ensures sustainability and growth beyond just pursuing what you love.

What trait do you most want in a co-worker?

I value traits like collaboration, reliability and empathy. I appreciate someone who works well with others, values teamwork and actively contributes to the group’s success.

What about Knoxville would you like to improve?

In Knoxville, I would like to improve the availability of community spaces that foster engagement among members of diverse backgrounds. Creating more inclusive areas where people from different cultural, social and economic backgrounds can come together would help strengthen connections and build a more cohesive community. Additionally, I would focus on creating more opportunities for those in need by expanding access to educational programs, job training and mentorship initiatives. Empowering underserved populations and ensuring they have the resources to thrive would not only uplift individuals but also contribute to a more equitable and vibrant Knoxville.

What don’t people know about you?

What many people might not know about me is that I serve as the national director of my fraternity’s collegiate academy, where I work to develop leadership skills and personal growth opportunities for young members. This role allows me to inspire and mentor students, preparing them for success in both their academic and professional journeys. On a lighter note, another lesser-known fact is that my favorite food is spaghetti. I find great comfort in a classic plate of spaghetti, which has always been my go-to meal.

• Family: Minnie Lane, grandmother, Jimmy Lane and Eddie Dean Butler, parents; Erica Mosley and Courtney Lane, sisters; and a host of other family and friends that poured into me
• Years worked at current company: 3
• Degrees and certifications: Bachelor’s in public health, Western Kentucky University; Master’s in counselor education, Mississippi State University
• Community involvement: Boys & Girls Club, volunteer; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., member

– Keenan Thomas

Connie Stamos was cooking dinner when the evacuation order came down. 

Get out of Altadena. 

She grabbed her laptop and the family cat, Socks, as a fire birthed Tuesday in nearby Eaton Canyon and spread on powerful winds, threatening the cozy town tucked between Pasadena and the San Gabriel Mountains.

Chris Stamos got a call the following morning from his mom, who came back to a forever-changed Altadena. The former Tennessee baseball pitcher heard his mom tell him they lost the house.

“I was like, ‘What do you mean we lost the house? Where did you put it?’ ” Stamos said. “She was like, ‘No, the fires unexpectedly blew the wrong way.’ ”

The Stamos family house was destroyed by the Eaton Fire, one of the fires that is ravaging Los Angeles County. They likely lost everything in it, including Stamos’ cherished baseball keepsakes from his career with a final stop at Tennessee.

Why the Altadena house meant so much to the Stamos family

Stamos received a video from Connie earlier Tuesday. It showed planters outside blown over and broken by the winds. She laughed and told him he wouldn’t have to worry about those when he helps with the gardening.

Hours later, the fire had started and the winds were no laughing matter. Connie fled the home.

“It was a beautiful home and a beautiful project,” Stamos said. “We had everything we wanted.”

The little house on Callecita Drive stood as a picture of a fresh chapter.

STAMOS: Chris Stamos’ best outing for Tennessee baseball gives Vols reset they needed at SEC Tournament

Connie was an empty nester by 2019. Her sons, Alex and Chris, were playing baseball at Principia College, a Division III school in Illinois. She was widowed in 2016 when Nick, her husband and the boys’ father, died. She had retired after decades working Disney and started a real estate business.

The fixer-upper a few roads away from their longtime home was perfect.

Connie planned a total remodel to make the house special, but the COVID pandemic shuttered them. She could not get permits nor builders to work on the house. The boys were home in the two-bedroom house so she converted the garage into a space for Chris.

“It was miserable,” Stamos said. “But as miserable as it was, you look back on it now and it was such a unique time in our lives. You can only sit back and laugh about how terrible every circumstance was.”

The family hunkered down together. They wasted time watching television in the back room. They played video games with cousins that lived nearby. 

The house became a home, then it became what Connie wanted: She redid the whole house, doubling the size and redesigning it to fit her vision. The project was completed in fall 2022.

Stamos remembers Connie’s joy when she pulled a turkey out of the new oven in the finished home on Thanksgiving that year. 

“We got our money’s worth with it in terms of memories and in terms of laughs,” said Stamos, who is living in Austin and working in sales.

Replacing baseball memorabilia on Chris Stamos’ mind

Connie didn’t pack clothes or belongings when she fled. She headed an hour north to Acton to stay with her boyfriend, Steve, planning to come back to evacuate bigger items in the morning.

“That morning, the neighborhood was on fire,” Stamos said.

Stamos got the call from his mom that morning. He stepped out of a quarterly evaluation with one of his bosses, heeding horrible news over the phone like he did when he was 16 and his father died.

Cherished keepsakes from his dad and childhood are gone. He thinks family pictures can be replaced. 

Many of the most irreplaceable possessions are from his baseball journey.

Stamos had the jersey he wore when Tennessee won the national title in his bedroom. He had his senior day gift from UT, a watercolor painting of him pitching. He displayed framed jerseys and every glove he used in college.

“It is hard to lose little stuff like that,” Stamos said. “A glove is a piece of leather but it has a story.”

Stamos kept countless baseball items because they spoke to hard work and a crazy path.

He had hats and clothing that reminded him of walking through snow at 4 a.m. to work out at Principia. He had the first glove he got at Cal when he landed in Berkeley for the 2023 season. He had College World Series pieces and Tennessee history, which he helped make as an essential member of the pitching staff.

PITCHING: How Tennessee baseball reinvented pitching staff to get back to College World Series

 It was all a reminder of 20 years of work put into baseball.

“That stuff was earned,” said Stamos, who was 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA in 22 games for Tennessee.

What is next for the Stamos family after the Eaton fire

Connie returned to Callecita Drive on Thursday with her brother. They got by the yellow tape and beheld the devastation.

“They got to see what was left, which turned out to be not a house,” Stamos said.

The Eaton fire has destroyed or damaged approximately 7,000 structures and killed five as of Saturday afternoon, according to Cal Fire. 

The Stamoses are navigating their next steps. Connie had to buy daily staples like clothing, shoes and toiletries. They have insurance that they expect will provide aid. Recreating a life and a community will take longer.

“I have told everyone that if there is someone that is built for obstacles, it is Connie Stamos,” Stamos said. “She is a freaking rockstar. It breaks my heart because she doesn’t deserve something like this.”

The family set up a GoFundMe on Friday with a goal of raising $15,000 to provide temporary housing and replace essentials. It eclipsed $50,000 on Saturday with a push from Knoxville, Vols fans and many Tennessee baseball players and their families.

FALL: 10 final impressions from Tennessee baseball fall world series under Tony Vitello

Stamos has talked with Vols coach Tony Vitello about getting replacements for some of the items lost. He tears up thinking about the support he feels from those he met in his one year at Tennessee, calling it a “blank-check relationship” that is “filling the hole of uncertainty.” 

“They watched a kid throw a baseball and now they are doing whatever they can to help the kid’s mom,” Stamos said.

The experience of loss has been unexpected, leading to tear-filled phone calls.

Stamos knows California is no stranger to fires and such disasters happen. The leap from it could happen to it happened to you is large and it happened so quickly.

It’s surreal, Stamos said, but everyone is safe and the Stamoses are moving forward as best as they can after losing the drafty little house they made a home.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson or Bluesky @bymikewilson.bsky.social. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – The East Tennessee region saw 118 crashes from midnight Friday into Saturday morning, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Mark Nagi.

Ice and snow bought to the area by an early year winter storm caused many of those crashes. The storm created conditions that Nagi said are still dangerous for drivers.

Previous Coverage: THP, TDOT warns of possibility of treacherous conditions after winter storm hits East Tennessee

“People just need to understand that for the next few days, they’re certainly going to see patches of snow and ice on a lot of our roads,” Nagi said Saturday morning.

He said his department pretreated state roads, but cold temperatures could create problems for the next few days.

“Yeah, our crews pretreated roadways all day Thursday, and they have been on the job since the early morning hours yesterday,“ Nagi said. ”The challenges you run into is that there’s going to be a lot of refreezing, more than likely on our interstates and state routes.”

Previous Coverage: TDOT snowplow overturns on snowy TN highway

With that in mind, Nagi said, staying off the roads isn’t just about keeping drivers safe; Nagi said crews need the space too.

“It’s extremely dangerous work that our crews do each and every day, and especially during a winter weather event. Over in Smith County, there was a semi that hit one of our trucks,” Nagi said, adding that no one was hurt. “That’s why if folks can stay at home, please do. But if you do have to be on the roads, please give our crews the extra room that they need to to do their jobs.”

The Tennessee Highway Patrol gave their own stats Saturday morning. According to THP, the agency received 850 phone calls Friday and Saturday. Responses broke down like this from 6 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday:

• Calls: 382
• Crashes with injuries: 12
• Crashes with no injuries: 51
• Motor assist: 140
• Abandoned vehicles: 21
• Obstruction in roadway: 3
• Disabled vehicle: 1

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