Former NFL star Ed Reed has agreed to become the next coach at Bethune-Cookman. He will be the third high-profile athlete to coach at an HBCU in recent years. Deion Sanders coached at Jackson State for three seasons before joining Colorado, while Eddie George has been the coach at Tennessee State since 2021.
“We are excited to hear that Ed has been named the head football coach at Bethune-Cookman,” Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich said. “Ed is one of the best to ever wear a Miami Hurricanes uniform and he has served as a great mentor to our student-athletes the past three years. He will do a tremendous job leading the Wildcats program and the entire Miami family wishes him all the best.”
For the past three seasons, Reed was on the support staff for the University of Miami and was senior football advisor under head coach Mario Cristobal. Before joining the Hurricanes staff, Reed was an assistant defensive back coach with the Buffalo Bulls in 2016.
Bethune-Cookman has won a pair of national championships and 14 conference titles. However, Bethune-Cookman is coming off back-to-back 2-9 seasons since joining the Southwestern Athletic Conference in 2021.
Reed played his college football at Miami where he won a national championship and took home consensus All-American honors in 2000 and 2001. He was named the Big East co-defensive player of the year in 2001. The 44 year old was a leader for the Hurricanes’ run toward a BCS championship win over Nebraska in the Rose Bowl. His 21 interceptions in his four years in Miami remain a program record.
Reed played 12 years in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and Houston Texans. The Louisiana native played 174 career games, compiled a total of 643 tackles (531 solo), intercepted 64 passes which he returned for 1,590 yards and seven touchdowns, recorded six sacks, and made 13 fumble recoveries. A nine-time Pro Bowler, Reed was named All-Pro six times and the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2004.
Reed was with the Ravens when they won Super Bowl XLVII and has been inducted into the College and NFL Hall of Fame.
-LaMarr Fields
Twitter: @raiderway83
Photo: Maryland National Guard. This image or file is a work of a U.S. National Guard member or employee, taken or made as part of that person’s official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image or file is in the public domain in the United States.