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Jim Reid gives credit where credit is due. "You learn from those who taught you," Reid said. In a flash, he rattles off the names of the coaches who taught him the game of football. Joe McCue in Medford, Mass. youth league. Hank Cutting and Jim McKinnon at Medford High School. Walt Abbott at the University of Maine. Dick MacPherson, whom Reid coached with for six years at Massachusetts. He pauses at Abbott. "Walt Abbott loved us," he said. "We knew that because he cared about what we were getting in school, making sure we were keeping ourselves straight socially. And he pushed us to the limit as athletes. I know that I reached my potential as a student-athlete and as a man. I know I did, because he made sure I did." The same feeling is characteristic of Reid, who completed his sixth season in charge of the University of Richmond's football program. Victories and championships are just as welcome at Richmond as anywhere, but so is integrity - on and off the field. "Every single football player in this football program knows that this staff, and myself as part as this staff, are committed to their growth, more than just as an athlete," Reid said. Last season, the Spiders played the toughest schedule in I-AA football. In addition to season-opening I-A road games against Virginia and Vanderbilt, Richmond suffered numerous injuries to star players. Despite the obstacles, Richmond still managed to dominate the defensive side of the ball. Its overall defense finished 11th nationally, its rushing defense was seventh and its scoring defense ranked 13th. Richmond's rushing offense was eighth in all of I-AA football, amassing 249.82 yards per game. The Spiders won only three games during the fall, but their 35-7 win at UMass in the season-finale left the program with great momentum heading into the off-season.
Reid and his staff have led the Spiders to a 42-37-1 record in seven seasons - the most wins of any Richmond coach in his first seven years. Richmond won seven times in 1995, his first campaign as head coach, as Reid was named the Yankee Conference co-Coach of the Year and the Spiders finished ranked No. 20 in Division I-AA. Richmond was 6-5 in '97, then put everything together in 1998. The Spiders lost their first two games in that season before reeling off nine straight wins to gain their first Atlantic 10 championship and first playoff berth since 1987. Reid also earned Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors. It was the first time in school history that a team had won nine games and had won nine consecutive contests. When Richmond entered last year, it had the opportunity to become the first squad to put together three consecutive winning seasons since 1953-55. The Spiders came up short, losing their last three to finish 5-6. Before taking over as Richmond's head coach, he spent a pair of seasons as defensive coordinator on Jim Marshall's Spiders staff and then served a season at the same post at Boston College in 1994. Under Reid's direction, the Eagles finished sixth in total defense (266.1 yards per game) and ninth in scoring defense (14.7 points per game) among Division I-A teams. And it was the defensive unit that consistently confused Kansas State quarterback Chad May in BC's Aloha Bowl win over the Wildcats. Before that, Reid spent 19 years on the staff at Massachusetts, the first two as a graduate assistant, 11 as an assistant and six as head coach. As head of the Minutemen, Reid posted a record of 36-29-2, won three Yankee Conference championships and made two postseason trips. Just as impressive as the on-the-field accolades is what Reid, a former safety who started every game for three years at the University of Maine, promotes off the field. "This program is based on success, but more than just Saturday success," he said. "Success here at Richmond for five years will carry you on for another 60 (years). "I'm really proud of our record - and not just in wins and losses. I'm proud of the fact that we have put nine players in professional football. And not only are they in professional football, they've already graduated, graduated with distinction." Some players, like Shawn Barber, Eric King and Mark Megna, have left Richmond with NFL jobs. For most others, their playing days end. "I am confident that when a player ends his career here, I can look him square in the eye and know we gave him what we promised him when he was recruited. We gave him the opportunity to become the greatest student, the greatest athlete and the greatest man he could be," Reid said. "The term 24-7 is how we pay attention to our athletes. And our faculty knows it, the staff at this university knows it, the administrators know it. We've been able to create an atmosphere of family. Respect for each other, as well as respect for our opponents. We did it the right way. We're still doing it the right way." Personal
Coaching Career
Record as Head Coach
Record at UR
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Richmond enjoyed one of its most successful seasons in 2000. The Spiders won 10 games for the first time in school history. Richmond was Atlantic 10 co-champion and advanced to the quarterfinals of the I-AA Playoffs. Reid was named conference Coach of the Year.
