BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh University has named former associate head coach Brett Reed as its new Murray H. Goodman ’48 Head Men’s Basketball Coach. Reed has been an assistant at Lehigh for the past five years, serving as associate head coach since the start of the 2006-07 season. Reed replaces Billy Taylor, who left Lehigh on Tuesday to become the head coach at Ball State University. “I am honored to be named the Murray H. Goodman Head Men’s Basketball Coach here at Lehigh University,” Reed explained. “It is a privilege to represent one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the country. I would like to thank (Lehigh Goodman Dean of Athletics) Dr. Joe Sterrett for his ongoing support and confidence in my professional capabilities. I would also like to thank Billy Taylor for his mentorship throughout the last five years.”
Reed continued, “During my time here at Lehigh, we have been able to accomplish substantial growth as a program and have laid the foundation for future success. I am proud of my role in building Lehigh’s basketball program. I am looking forward to further strengthening Lehigh as a championship caliber program.”
He added, “I am proud of the student-athletes that we currently have in this program and the character they have exhibited. I am excited to work with them in the capacity of Head Coach to help them continue to grow athletically, academically and personally.”
“Brett Reed has been quite impressive in his work as an assistant,” explained Lehigh Goodman Dean of Athletics Joe Sterrett. “He is respected by our student-athletes, he is an excellent teacher and communicator, and he has been an extremely productive recruiter. I admire his values, his work ethic, his energy, and his devotion to our players, their education, and their experience. He has earned and deserves this opportunity."
During his time at Lehigh, Reed has performed a number of duties including recruiting coordinator, academic mentoring, scouting and working with the Mountain Hawks guards out on the floor. He played an instrumental role in the Mountain Hawks 2004 Patriot League Championship as well as two of the winningest seasons in school history (2003-04, 2005-06).
“I’m extremely proud for Brett and his family,” Taylor said on Friday. “Brett has been a wonderful fit for Lehigh and a tremendous leader in the program during his five years. He has poured his time, effort and energy into the program and has earned this opportunity to become the new head coach of the men’s basketball program.” Taylor added, “The student-athletes at Lehigh will be well-trained, educated and schooled by Brett and I know he’ll do a great job in continuing to build the Lehigh basketball program.”
Prior to coming to Lehigh, Reed served as the top assistant coach at High Point University in North Carolina for two seasons. Reed was an integral part of the coaching staff that led the Panthers to the Big South Championship game in 2002. Reed spent the 1999-2000 season as the Director of Basketball Operations at the University of North Carolina – Greensboro and he began his collegiate coaching career at Oakland (Mich.) Community College where he was an assistant from 1995-97. Before starting his collegiate coaching career, Reed was the varsity head coach at the Canterbury School (Fla.).
A native of Waterford, Michigan, Reed attended Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida where he contributed at point guard and helped lead his team to a conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. Reed graduated with honors, earning his Bachelors degree in 1995 before earning his Master’s at Wayne State in 1998. In 2003, Reed received his Ph.D. from Wayne State University in Instructional Technology with a Cognate in Sports Administration. He was also honored during his academic career with a number of awards including the prestigious Thomas C. Rumbell Fellowship.
Reed and his wife Kindra reside in Allentown with their son Brendan (4) and daughter Makenna (2).
