Rod Reed named Head Football Coach at Tennessee State
December 18, 2009
Tennessee State University has named Rod Reed as the head football coach. Reed, who served as associate head football coach in 2009, replaces James Webster who resigned on November 19, 2009. He will be the twenty-first head coach of the Tennessee State Tigers program, dating back to 1912.
Reed, 43, was a four-year letter winner at TSU (1984-88) and helped lead the Tigers to the second round of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in 1986. Reed capped off his career by being named a Sheridan All-America football player as a linebacker after his senior season. Rod is the son of the late Robert Reed, who was the first All-American for the legendary “Big John” Merritt.
Reed
This will be Reed’s first assignment as head coach, he brings 17 years of experience in the coaching ranks. Including Tennessee State, he has held positions at East Texas Baptist College, Prairie View A&M, Bethune-Cookman University (formerly Bethune-Cookman College) and Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach, Fla.
“We are pleased to name Rod Reed as the new coach of our football program.” says TSU Athletic Director Teresa Phillips. “Rod comes with a strong sense of the Tennessee State Tigers’ tradition and gives us continuity with our current players.” Phillips concluded saying, “We have confidence he will lead our program successfully into the future.”
A keen recruiter, Reed is responsible for bringing several notable players into the TSU program. Reed is noted for recruiting Javarris Williams (2009 seventh round draft pick, Kansas City Chiefs), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (2008 first round pick, Arizona Cardinals), Shaun Richardson, Lamar Divens (Baltimore Ravens) and Cornelius Lewis.
Reed began coaching at Tennessee State in 2003 as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. At the conclusion of that season, the Tigers led the Ohio Valley Conference in Total Defense for the first time in school history. His defensive unit accomplished the same feat in 2008.
