William Reed - Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs

A veteran coach of all levels of football, from high school to the NFL, Will Reed has just finished his fifth season in Athens as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach.  Reed and his defense were instrumental in this year's run to the 2011 Citizens Bank Bowl, leading a defense that led the SWJCFC in total defense, yards per game, passing defense and passing yards per game.  As well as finishing 2nd in the SWJCFC in total points, points per game, rushing defense and rushing yards per game  The defense was recognized with the SWJCFC Defensive MVP and 1st Team All-American selection Jermane Longino.  Under his tutelage defensive back Martez Shabazz was named 1st Team All-SWJCFC as well, while leading both the conference and nation in pass breakups.  Two other Cardinal defensive backs, Keivon Gamble (2nd Team All-SWJCFC) and Cliff Stokes, also finished 4th and 7th respectively in the nation in pass breakups.  The Cardinal's stingy defense forced 2 or more turnovers in 9 of 11 games in 2011, including 6 against #2 Butler in the bowl game.  The defense also produced 3 SWJCFC defensive players of the week, bringing Reed's total to 6 former Cards to earn that honor.

The 2010 defense, which played itself into the 2010 SWJCFC Regional Championship game had the conference's leading tackler, linebacker Everett Daniels.  The Cardinal defense also sported the NJCAA National Defensive Player of the Week versus Kilgore College, bringing Reed's total to 3 that have been recognized with that honor.

No stranger to TVCC or Brad Smiley, Reed was also here for the 1998 and 1999 seasons.  During his previous tenure at Trinity Valley he coached both the defensive line (1998), and defensive backs (1999) during the program’s run to the 1999 Southwestern Junior College Football Conference and 1999 Red River Bowl championships.  During his four seasons in Athens, Reed tutored several All-Conference and All-American players, including 2007 1st Team NJCAA All-American defensive back Cordarious Mingo.

From 2004 to 2006, Reed coached at Texas College in Tyler, Texas where he had been the team’s defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator, as well as an associate athletic director for the school.  Prior to Texas College, Coach Reed spent two seasons as head football and track coach at Dominican High School in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin.

Reed has spent several years coaching professional football, leaving TVCC in 2000 to join the Milwaukee Mustangs in the Arena Football League.  There he enjoyed success as the team’s assistant head coach and special teams coordinator, as well as coaching the team’s defensive backs.  Reed had also spent time with AFL teams the New York City Hawks and the Texas Terror.  Coach Reed has also coached in the NFL, spending the 2004 and 2005 summers interning with the Minnesota Vikings; and in 2010 with the Dallas Cowboys. 

Reed has also played at the Division I and junior college levels.  He began his playing career at the College of the Siskiyous, where he obtained an Associate’s degree.  Then, continued his career as a safety for New Mexico State University, where he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism.

Coach Reed has one son, Cameron, and is married to his wife Yolanda.