Massachusetts Football Coach Jim Reid Retires

AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts football coach Jim Reid has announced his retirement. Reid, who had been serving in an analyst role under current head coach Joe Harasymiak, previously served as the UMass head coach from 1986-91 and led the Minutemen to Yankee Conference championships in 1986, 1988 and 1990.

Reid coached for 51 years, including 23 at the University of Massachusetts. Most recently, he served as an analyst and supported Harasymiak during his transition into the UMass head coach role.

"Coach Reid exemplifies everything great about UMass football," Harasymiak said. "In my first several months on the job, he was always there to answer questions, pass along insight and share the perspective I needed. His selflessness set the standard for our program both on and off the field. We're all part of the UMass football family because of leaders like Coach Reid. He has impacted countless lives through the game and I am both deeply grateful and inspired by his example. Congratulations on a remarkable career, Coach Reid!"

A constant connection for Minutemen across generations, Reid also served as an unofficial alumni ambassador for all who wore the Maroon & White.

"Coach Reid has been an integral part of our program across different decades and has had a remarkable impact on so many Minutemen," Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford said. "We have really enjoyed having him back with us over the last six years to both mentor our young men and connect them with alumni leading to truly impactful relationships. He has our gratitude and admiration for his service and commitment to Massachusetts football over the years."

Reid returned to the University of Massachusetts in June 2021 as interim defensive tackles coach. Reid brought 47 years of coaching experience to the Minutemen, including 19 prior seasons in Amherst. He spent 2016-19 at Boston College, helping the Eagles make two bowl appearances and tutoring 14 All-ACC selections on the defensive side of the ball.

While coaching the defensive ends during 2018-19, Reid worked with two of the nation's most dominant players at the position in 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.

Reid spent 2013-15 as Iowa's linebackers coach, helping the Hawkeyes to a 12-0 regular season in 2015 and as high as No. 4 in the College Football Playoff poll. Iowa ranked 22nd in the nation in total defense (341.0 yards/game) and 15th in rush defense (121.4 yards/game). The year prior, the team was seventh nationally in pass defense (175.9 yards/game) and 22nd in total defense (344.2 yards/game) led by All-Big Ten linebacker Quinton Alston.

In his first year with the Hawkeyes, he coached three senior linebackers who each recorded over 100 tackles and earned All-Big Ten accolades. Christian Kirksey was selected in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft by Cleveland; Dallas tabbed Anthony Hitchens in the fourth round and James Morris signed with New England as a free agent.

Iowa's defense ranked among the national leaders in total defense (sixth), first downs allowed (seventh), pass defense (ninth), scoring defense (ninth), pass efficiency defense (17th) and rushing defense (19th). For the unit's successes, Reid along with LeVar Woods shared FootballScoop's National Linebackers Coaches of the Year award.

Reid was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Virginia from 2010-12. The 2012 Cavaliers were fourth in the ACC in total defense (353.3 yards/game), fourth in pass defense (208.4 yards/game), third in first downs allowed (18.6) and fourth in third-down conversion defense (30.7%) while UVA linebacker Steve Greer earned first team All-ACC honors as he ranked second in the league with 122 tackles. In 2011, led by first-team All-ACC cornerback Chase Minnifield and defensive tackle Matt Conrath, UVA was third in the conference in total defense.

Reid spent 2008 and 2009 in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins coaching the outside linebackers. In '08, Miami won its first AFC East Division title in eight years and Joey Porter produced a career-high 17.5 sacks, second in the NFL. Porter's sack total marked the most ever by a Dolphins linebacker and third-most in league history at the position.

Reid's stops before Miami included Virginia Military Institute (head coach; 2006-07), Bucknell (defensive line; 2005) and Syracuse (defensive line; 2004). During his lone season with Syracuse, the Orange were Big East co-champions and played in the Tangerine Bowl.

Reid led Richmond as head coach from 1995-2003, winning a pair of Atlantic 10 Conference championships and five finishes in the FCS Top 20 rankings. He was elected A-10 Coach of the Year in 1998 and 2000, and the Yankee Conference Co-Coach of the Year in 1995. In 2000, he guided the Spiders to the first 10-win season in program history. Reid remains the program's third-winningest coach (48) and returned to the Spiders after serving as defensive coordinator in 1992 and '93.

Reid directed the Boston College defense in 1994, when the Eagles went 7-4-1. The No. 11 nationally-ranked Eagles defeated Kansas State in the Aloha Bowl on Christmas Day. BC recorded 47 sacks that season, a school record matched only by Reid's defense 22 years later.

A revered coaching figure in UMass football history, Reid was at the helm of the Minutemen from 1986-91, where he led the program to three Yankee Conference titles (1986, '88, '90) and was named Yankee Conference Coach of the Year in '88 and '90. He spent the prior 13 seasons at UMass as an assistant under head coaches Dick MacPherson (1973-77), Bob Pickett (1978-83) and Bob Stull (1984-85) and won six Yankee Conference titles in that span. After joining MacPherson's staff as a graduate assistant in 1973, Reid went on to coach outside linebackers (1975), defensive backs (1976-77) and from 1978-85, served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

The Medford, Massachusetts native played safety at Maine from 1970-72 and earned his bachelor's degree in education in 1973. He added a master's in sport management from UMass (1975).

Reid and his wife, Judy, have three children: Matt, Meghan and Molly.

Jim Reid Coaching History
1973-74: Massachusetts • Graduate Assistant
1975: Massachusetts • Outside Linebackers
1976-77: Massachusetts • Defensive Backs
1978-85: Massachusetts • Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
1986-91: Massachusetts • Head Coach
1992-93: Richmond • Defensive Coordinator
1994: Boston College • Defensive Coordinator
1995-2003: Richmond • Head Coach
2004: Syracuse • Defensive Line
2005: Bucknell • Defensive Line
2006-07: VMI • Head Coach
2008-09: Miami Dolphins • Outside Linebackers
2010-12: Virginia • Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
2013-15: Iowa • Linebackers
2016-17: Boston College • Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2018: Boston College • Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Ends
2019: Boston College • Defensive Ends
2021: Massachusetts • Interim Defensive Tackles Coach
2022-24: Massachusetts • Defensive Analyst

Jim Reid Postseason Bowl Experience
1994: Boston College • Aloha Bowl
2004: Syracuse • Champs Sports Bowl
2011: Virginia • Chick-fil-A Bowl
2013: Iowa • Outback Bowl
2014: Iowa • TaxSlayer Bowl
2015: Iowa • Rose Bowl
2016: Boston College • Quick Lane Bowl
2017: Boston College • Pinstripe Bowl

-- UMassAthletics.com --

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