Reed, Launius named as football coordinators

Monday, February 12, 2007

Head Football Coach Brad Smiley has chosen William Reed and John Launius as his defensive and offensive coordinators.

New Trinity Valley Community Coach Brad Smiley has chosen a former TVCC coach and a new face with plenty of experience to serve as his coordinators.

William Reed and John Launius have come to the college as the defensive and offensive coordinators respectively.

Smiley said the two coordinators are ideal for the Cardinal coaching team.

 “They have both been head coaches, which is something I’ll really be able to benefit from since this is my first position as a head coach,” said Smiley.

“They understand it’s not what’s best for the offense or the defense but what’s best for the whole team.”

William Reed

When Reed decided to come back to TVCC, he didn’t have far to travel. Since August 2004 he has been working as the associate athletic director, recruiting coordinator and defensive coordinator at Texas College in Tyler.

Smiley and Reed worked together in 1998 and 1999, when both were on the staff at TVCC. Reed worked for the college as defensive backs coach under then Head Coach Scotty Conley and helped lead the team to a conference championship in 1999.

“I couldn’t imagine myself back here without Will because I know how much he cares about this program,” said Smiley. “He’s coached at every level of the game and I know he’s going to get the job done.”

“It feels really good to be back here. Especially since I know how committed the administration and the community are to this program. It gives me a sense of pride to be able to further this program,” said Reed.

After leaving TVCC, Reed worked in Milwaukee, Wisc., where he was the assistant head coach, special teams coordinator and defensive back coach for the Milwaukee Mustangs Arena Football Club. While Reed was with TVCC, he was working part of the year with the college and part of the year with the arena league. After leaving the college, he continued with the arena team until July 2001. While he was with the Mustangs, the club went to post-season competition three consecutive years.

He later worked as the head football and track coach for Dominican High School in Whitefish Bay, Wisc., from April 2002 to August 2004.

From there, Reed entered the pro circuit, completing a two-year internship with the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis, Minn. He was with the team from July 2004 to August 2004 and July 2005 to August 2005.

Other positions Reed held prior to his first stint at TVCC include serving as quarterbacks and running backs coach at Scarborough High School in Houston, working as wide receiver and defensive backs coach for the New York Cityhawks Arena Football Club in New York City, coaching running backs, linebackers and defensive backs for the Texas Terror Arena Football Club in Houston and serving as an administrative assistant and video coordinator at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, N.M.

Reed holds his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism: Public Relations/Advertising from New Mexico State and his associate’s degree from College of the Siskiyous.

Reed said he’s very optimistic about the upcoming season.

“Being back here is a very good thing. I feel that because I’m familiar with the program I can recruit the type of athletes I want to be able to recruit and I’m excited about this year’s class,” said Reed.

“We’ve got some all-district and all-state players coming and they understand hard work, team work and perseverance.”

John Launius

Launius is moving across state lines to become part of the Cardinal team. Until he accepted the job at TVCC, Launius was the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at Dodge City Community College in Dodge City, Kan.

During Launius’ year in Dodge City, the offense ranked in the top eight in the nation in pass offensive. Launius was not only in charge of the offense, he also ran the team’s strength and conditioning program and was involved with recruiting.

Smiley said Launius’ extensive experience coaching offense made him right for the TVCC job.

“My experience as a coach has been on the offensive side of the ball, but I have never coached quarterbacks. John’s a strong teacher of the quarterback position and the techniques involved,” said Smiley.

“I really felt after being in Texas for awhile before, this was the right move for me. I know how important football is in Texas,” said Launius. “And the opportunity to work with a head coach with Coach Smiley’s experience is a positive.”

His position at Dodge City was his first foray into college coaching. Before that, he spent more than a decade coaching at the high school level.

Launius was the head football coach at Channelview High School in Channelview, Texas from 2002 to 2006. He oversaw the football program and the budget. While he was head football coach at Channelview, the team saw its first five-win season since 1994.

Before Channelview, he worked at Arkadelphia High School in Arkadelphia, Ark., from 1998 until 2002 as the head football coach. During his tenure, the team made three state playoff appearances in four years. He also played a role in the passing of a major bond for the construction of a new field house, weight room and indoor workout area and a new stadium.

Launius also served as offensive coordinator at Camden Fairview High School in Camden. Ark., and Hamburg High School in Hamburg, Ark.

Launius holds his Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Ark. He attended Canterbury University in Chesire, UK, where he earned his MBA in Sports Management.

Launius is married and is the father of two children. His third child is expected this summer.