Houston Reed accepts new position with UNC Bears

Eagle’s Men’s Basketball coach will join his former teammate at Northern Colorado.

Chadron State College’s men’s basketball team will be searching for a new head coach after Houston Reed accepted an assistant coach position at the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Tuesday.

Reed said his family’s familiarity with the area played a major factor in his decision to accept the job offer. 

“It allows myself and family to return to our home state of Colorado and be closer with family,” Reed said. “Secondly, and most importantly, it’s an opportunity for me to coach with Head Coach Steve Smiley after he received the position. Steve and I are former teammates, lifelong friends, and have been working in the business simultaneously for over 15 years. Steve is not only a best friend but a fearless leader. The opportunity to serve him and work together is a lifetime dream. Lastly, it’s an opportunity to work at the division one level in a program that recruits Colorado talent and is the top of the Big Sky Conference.”

Smiley spent the last four seasons as UNC’s assistant coach and was named head coach earlier in March. Smiley said he was searching for a strong coaching staff built around experience and familiarity. He reached out to Reed soon after accepting the head coach position. 

Smiley praised the amount of familiarity he has with his assistant coaches, including Reed, which he believes will help with recruitment and roster-building.

“We’re all in uncertain times with this COVID virus and when we can get back with our physical teams, no one knows,” Smiley said. “To have that presence and that feeling of who coach Reed is – nobody can put a price tag on that.”

Reed’s experience as an NCAA Div. II coach factors into growing player relationships and establishing a culture, Smiley said. He also believes Reed’s Colorado roots will play a big role in recruiting within the state. “He’s always been a head coach, so for me to rely on him and pick his brains is going to be great,” Smiley said.

Reed will coach the posts and forwards and also factor into other roles with the team, according to Smiley.

After accepting the position, Reed said he reached out to the Eagles’ men’s basketball team using Facetime, telling each player he loved them, that he was proud of who they are as people and that he’s excited to watch them continue their journey.

It was definitely some hard news to hear, but I’m taking it a lot better now.

Walker Andrew, senior for CSC Men’s Basketball

The coaching departure came as a surprise to members of CSC men’s basketball team. It was Reed’s impact, both on, and off the court, that immediately came to mind.

“It was a really weird situation because he was the coach who recruited me, the coach that gave me a chance to play in college and the coach that brought me to Chadron,” Jacob Jefferson, junior of Buckeye, Arizona, said, “A part of me wanted him to be my coach for all four or five years. I’m happy for him and his family. He taught me a lot and he really shaped my game and made me a better person.”

Walker Andrew, senior of Littleton, Colorado, was recruited by Reed in 2016 and understands his role as a leader heading into the offseason knowing a new coach will take over the team in the near future.

“I was upset to hear it,” Andrew said of Reed’s departure. “Kind of mixed emotions. We grew our relationship so much in the last three years, he’s like family to me. He was one of the only coaches who took a chance on me. It was definitely some hard news to hear, but I’m taking it a lot better now.”

Reed’s departure could mean an opportunity for Jalen Little, who spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach for the Eagles. 

“If that’s god’s plan, I would love to take it,” Little said, “I’m working right now to put myself in that position to potentially be the head coach.”

Little said he learned a lot about the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in his time as assistant coach. He is familiar with the roster, some of whom he helped recruit.

“The first step is, if we do end up getting a new head coach and if they don’t hire Jalen (Little), then I would say is to bring our team closer together and reach out to our guys instead of letting this separate us or letting this change the culture of our program,” Andrew said. “I think I’ll play a big part in leading this team and a couple other older guys think the same as well.”

With the spread of COVID-19, CSC’s Athletic Department will delay announcements about coaching changes for the Eagles’ men’s basketball team, according to CSC Sports Information. The department is currently waiting for travel to be cleared before they begin their coaching search. 

Prior to taking the reigns as CSC’s head coach in 2016, Reed was the head men’s basketball coach at Otero Junior College. After 10 seasons with the Rattlers, Reed finished with a record of 174-140 and lead his team to a National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX Tournament Championship in 2012. The Eagles went 17-71 in conference play through four seasons under Reed.