Men's Basketball

LEOPARD ALUM RICHARD REED HIRED AS MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH

After an extensive nationwide search, University of La Verne director of athletics Chris Ragsdale has named ULV alumnus Richard Reed as head men's basketball coach.

A 1999 graduate of the University of La Verne, Reed has a total of eight years of coaching experience which includes the Division I, II and III levels. He most recently completed a stint at Cal State Sacramento as an assistant during the 2006-07 campaign. At Sacramento State, Reed worked with the team's post players while assisting with academics, recruiting, on-floor coaching and scouting. He was also be in charge of fund raising and team camps.

"We are thrilled to welcome back Richard as part of our campus community," Ragsdale said. "We are extremely pleased to be able to get a quality person and coach to lead our men's basketball program. Richard has had tremendous success as an assistant coach and we look for him to continue that success here at La Verne."

Reed also served as an assistant coach at Northern Colorado for one season (2005-06), three years at Loyola Marymount (2002-05), two seasons at Cal Poly Pomona (2000-02) and one year at La Verne (1999-00).

"It's definitely exciting to have the opportunity to coach at my alma mater," said Reed, who succeeds Gabe Duran at the helm of the Leopard basketball program. "It's also exciting to witness the facility renovation of the Sports Science & Athletics Pavilion. I look forward to challenge of moving this program forward and making serious strides within the SCIAC."

At Northern Colorado, Reed was responsible for all recruiting in California and Texas, and signed top recruit Darren Moore from Chino Hills, Calif. Moore was named the "Steal of the Southland" by both Channel 4 news and the Los Angeles Times. Reed also assisted with game preparation, practice planning, the development of perimeter players, as well as community outreach and program promotion. A proven teacher of the game, Reed mentored student-athlete Sean Taibi, who broke the school single season three-point shooting record and garnered first-team all-Independent honors.

At Loyola Marymount, Reed spent three years as an assistant on Steve Aggress' staff, where he helped coach the program to its first winning record since the 1997-98 season. With the Lions, Reed was in charge of recruiting California junior college players, development of wing players, strength and conditioning, community service, team travel, equipment, facilities and summer camps.

During Reed's time at Cal Poly Pomona, the team posted a two-year record of 35-19. As an assistant coach, Reed designed and implemented a total strength and conditioning program, monitored the academic progress of the student-athletes and worked closely with the community to develop positive relations through summer camps and community service programs.

Reed began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach for the Leopard women's basketball program during the 1999-2000 season. Reed was a two-year letter winner at La Verne from 1997-99 and graduated in 1999 with a degree in history. Prior to attending La Verne, Reed received his Associate of Arts degree at East Los Angeles College and was a two-time letterwinner for the basketball squad.

A 1994 graduate of Bishop Amat High School, Reed earned all-league honors in basketball as a junior at Bishop Amat and led the team in assists and steals as a senior.