Mike Reed

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Mike Reed

In nine years under head coach Mike Reed, including eight in competition, The University of Texas at Tyler softball program has established itself as an elite program not only in the American Southwest Conference, but on a national level as well. 

The 2012 season was another successful one for Reed and the Patriots, as they advanced, yet again, to the NCAA Regionals, where they rolled all the way to the regional championship game, before falling to eventual National Champion Pacific Lutheran. The Patriots finished the year with a 39-9 overall record. Katelyn Thomason and Joey Cronin were each named All-Americans, with Thomason earning second team honors on the NFCA team and Cronin receiving second team on the Capitol One team.

In 2011, the Patriots posted a 40-13 overall record on their way to their second NCAA West Region Championship and their second trip to the NCAA DIII Women's College World Series, where they finished 3rd. 

The Patriots have achieved a No. 1 national ranking twice, during three different seasons, in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll.

Reed has built a program that excels on the diamond and off, with 55 players making ASC All-Division teams, 50 players named to ASC All-Academic teams and 29 players earning Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-West Region recognition. The program has also produced seven All-Americans. Reed has led the program to an impressive 282-81 mark since their inaugural season in 2005, making five straight NCAA Regional appearances and guiding the Patriots to two NCAA DIII Women's College World Series in 2009 where they finished fifth and 2011 where they finished 3rd. In addition, the Patriots are 8-1 against Division I schools and also 7-1 against NAIA schools – both scholarship programs.

Reed came to UT Tyler in 2004 from East Texas Baptist University, where he coached the Tigers to the ASC Championship in all three years and left as the all-time leader in career wins at 105-31 (.772). He was twice named ASC East Coach of the Year for his efforts, which twice saw his teams advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2002 and 2003.

The Clarksville, Texas, native earned his masters of education at UT Tyler, also holding his bachelor’s degree in business administration from ETBU. His standout playing career for the ETBU baseball team was highlighted by a no-hitter, while his name is still scattered in the record books in several statistical categories.

Reed and his wife Amanda three children: Garrett (9) and Gavin (2), and Rylee Paige who was born in June of 2012.

Michael Reed: Year-by-Year