University of Massachusets Athletics

Jim Reid and Roy Philon Hiring

Football Adds Jim Reid and Roy Philon to Staff

June 17, 2021 | Football

Reid named interim defensive tackles coach; Philon to serve as defensive analyst

AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts football and head coach Walt Bell announced a pair of staff additions on Thursday, as Jim Reid has joined Bell's staff as interim defensive tackles coach and Roy Philon has arrived with the program as defensive analyst.

Reid returns to the Minutemen bringing 47 years of coaching experience, including 19 prior seasons (1973-91) in Amherst. He was on staff at Boston College during 2016-19, including three seasons as defensive coordinator. Philon returns to the collegiate level having spent 2019 on staff with the Seattle Seahawks as intern defensive line coach.

One of the most respected defensive minds in football, Reid worked with two of the nation's most dominant defensive ends in 2018 and '19 in BC's Zach Allen and Wyatt Ray. Allen was an All-ACC second-team selection and finished his career in the top 10 in BC history in sacks and TFLs. He was a third-round selection by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2019 NFL Draft. Ray, a fellow All-ACC pick, set the single-game school record for sacks and later signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns.
 
Reid directed the 2017 Eagles defense that finished third nationally in pass efficiency and 12th in interceptions. Lukas Denis had seven picks, tied for second in the country en route to a Walter Camp Football Foundation Second Team All-America honor. Four BC players on defense were named All-ACC and three were selected in the 2018 NFL Draft in linebacker Harold Landry, plus defensive backs Kamrin Moore and Isaac Yiadom.
 
Boston College had one of the top defenses in the nation during 2016, Reid's first season as defensive coordinator. The squad ranked in the top-10 in eight categories, including sacks (second; 3.62/game), total defense (ninth; 314.2 yards/game) and turnovers gained (10th; 27). The Eagles had 47 total sacks on the year, matching a school record set in 1994 also with Reid as defensive coordinator. Landry led FBS with a program-best 16.5 sacks and was named a Walter Camp and AP All-American. In the 2017 NFL Draft, linebacker Matt Milano and safety John Johnson were selected in the fifth and third rounds, respectively. A complete bio on Reid is available by clicking here.

While with the Seahawks, Philon had a lead role in the fundamental skill development of the defensive line, weekly game planning and creating rotations based on daily evaluation of players in the position group. He also conducted individual development sessions with players.
 
During 2018, Philon was at Kentucky State in a variety of capacities, with a focus coaching the defensive line and outside linebackers. With the Thorobreds, Philon was responsible for skill development, meetings, film study and all aspects of practice and game planning. Philon also played a primary role in recruiting at multiple positions across the program, as well as fundraising efforts and student-athletes' academic progress. Outside of direct coaching, Philon assisted the team in an equipment capacity as well.
 
Philon's first foray into the coaching world came during the 2017 season, when he was the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Jeffersontown High School in Kentucky.
 
Prior to coaching, Philon spent parts of the 2014-17 NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers. Collegiately, Philon was a four-year starter at Louisville at defensive end and was part of four squads to reach postseason bowl games (2010-13).
 
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