The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1481002
TRACKING THE PACK 10 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY TIM PEELER N o Diet Coke can was safe around Tom Reed. The fiery and emotional NC State head football coach from 1983-85 would often get so frustrated by what hap- pened with his team on the field that he would sling any available beverage across the room to vent his anger during postgame press conferences. It was the endearing danger of cov- ering a strict disciplinarian, known to everyone as "The General." Reed played college football for head coach Bo Schembechler at Miami (Ohio) and served on his staff at Michigan be- fore returning to take charge of Miami's program for five years, becoming one of the most sought-after young coaches in the country. In 1983, he was hired to replace dis- missed NC State head coach Monte Kif- fin, with specific instructions to im- prove the football program's academic performance. Reed outlined and imple- mented a five-year plan to do just that. On-field football success did not fol- low, however. The Wolfpack lost back- to-back games against Furman, two of three games to East Carolina and all six of its games against North Carolina and Duke. Supporters of the program began to waver about his future. "Why are fans who call for improved academic efforts also calling for Reed's replacement?" wrote NC State's stu- dent newspaper when fans began to get antsy about Reed's lack of success. "It's hypocritical to call for a balance between academics and athletics and then demand that Reed win at all costs. "State is better off with a coach who sees his players as students first, ath- letes second." After three consecutive 3-8 finishes, Reed abruptly resigned following the Wolfpack's 31-19 loss at Duke in the 1985 season finale, a week after he re- ceived a tepid vote of confidence from athletics director Willis Casey. Reed returned to Michigan to coach from 1987-91, but then retired to begin an executive search consultant busi- ness in Raleigh. After years of declining health, Reed died at a long-term care facility in Zebulon, N.C., on Sept. 26. He was 77. Retired Wolfpack Club executive di- rector Bobby Purcell was one of five for- mer assistants to make a final visit to Reed the week before his death, along with David Horning, Tom Landsittel, Johnny Rodgers and Jeff Long. "Coach Reed did a lot of good things for the football program, especially re- garding academics," Purcell said. He was so focused on the academic per- formance of his players and took great pride in every one that graduated." Reed expanded and improved NC State's recruiting base, especially at the skill position, and its weight training. He inherited junior college quarterback Tim Esposito and turned him into the school's all-time leading passer, records that were immediately broken by junior college quarterback Erik Kramer, who played one year under Reed and one year under his successor, Dick Sheridan. "Coach Reed did a great job of bring- ing talented players to NC State," Pur- cell said. "He left four players on offense that played in the NFL: Kramer, Danny Peebles, Haywood Jeffires and Nasrallah Worthen." The final commitment of Reed's last recruiting class was Winston-Salem defensive lineman Ray Agnew, who was the 1986 ACC Freshman of the Year, a first-team All-ACC performer, a first- round NFL Draft pick and a member of the 1999 Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams with wide receiver Torry Holt. "Tom elevated the program in a lot of ways people don't appreciate," Purcell said. "He also supported his coaches. He believed in me before I ever believed in myself." Reed is survived by his wife, Cathee, son J.D., daughter Ashley and four grandchildren. ■ Remembering Tom Reed, A Passionate Coach Who Prioritized Academics Reed spent three seasons as NC State's head football coach and "elevated the program in a lot of ways people don't appreciate," said retired Wolfpack Club executive director Bobby Purcell, one his former assistants. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE