Chadron State College Athletic Director Joel R. Smith has announced the addition of Houston Reed to the athletic department staff as head men’s basketball coach.
“I’m excited about the enthusiasm Houston brings to Eagle men’s basketball,” said Smith. “He has a long history of winning basketball and a good understanding of what it will take to be competitive in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.”
Reed comes to Chadron after serving as head men’s basketball coach for the past 10 years at Otero Junior College in La Junta, Colorado, where he put together a career winning record of 174-140, with an even more impressive 117-46 mark over the past five years.
During that successful five-year stretch, the Rattlers won the highly competitive NJCAA Region IX Tournament in 2012, made a repeat appearance in the title game in 2013, and most recently won the Region IX South Division in 2015-16 with a 15-1 conference record. Reed was voted the Region IX Coach of the Year in both 2012 and 2016.
In 2012, by virtue of winning the regional, Reed took his program to its first-ever NJCAA national tournament appearance, where they advanced to the Elite 8.
While at Otero, Reed coached 29 academic all-region and 12 academic All-American players. Four of his teams finished in the top-20 nationally for team grade point average. He placed 67 players to four-year institutions, including six to NCAA Division I schools in the past two years.
Prior to OJC, Reed was head boys’ basketball coach at Rocky Ford High School in Colorado, where he took a winless team to the Colorado 2A Sweet-16 in only two seasons.
As a player from 1998-2002, Reed first starred at OJC, where he holds the single-game scoring record (46) and currently sits 15th on the all-time scoring leader board. Following his graduation from Otero, he played for two seasons at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota under legendary coach Don Meyer who leads the NCAA in all-time wins.
“I’m looking forward to getting off to a quick start at Chadron State,” said Reed.
“I’d like to thank Dr. Rhine and Joel Smith for the opportunity to lead this program. I feel very honored to be chosen. The men’s basketball program at CSC is set up to be successful. Several key elements are in place for the Eagles to have an impact in the RMAC. Administratively, the expectations and the support of Dr. Rhine are extremely promising. Joel’s plans and goals for the department include incredible facilities and the funding we need to win. On top of all that, my family and I look forward to a familiar culture that we think we’ll fit into very well.”
Reed will be introduced tomorrow, May 5, in a media opportunity at Chicoine Center on the Chadron State College campus. Non-local media are invited to call into the introduction via teleconference. Interested media may contact Interim Sports Information Director Kaleb Center at [email protected] or 308-432-7082 for more information.
Photo Courtesy Chadron State Athletics
