Roger Reid Named Head Coach at BYU

Roger Reid, an assistant coach at Brigham Young University for a dozen years, was named head basketball coach today, just three days after Ladell Andersen retired.

“I’ve prepared my whole life to be here,” said the 41-year-old Reid, who was named assistant head coach six years ago when Andersen was hired. Andersen, 60, retired Friday after his only losing season at BYU.

Athletic Director Glenn Tuckett said the decision to hire Reid “was not a spur-of-the moment thing. We think you always have to have a plan ‘B.’ We felt we had done our homework very well. Like everyone here, he has a one-year contract.”

‘Elated, Excited’

Reid said he was “elated and excited” because he has devoted himself to coaching basketball at BYU.

“Roger Reid has prepared his whole life for this opportunity. I have never wanted to be a doctor, I have never wanted to be baker, I have wanted to be a basketball coach and to be a basketball coach at Brigham Young University,” he said.

“I have never wanted to be a basketball coach at UCLA or North Carolina,” said Reid, who last year turned down the No. 2 job at UCLA. “BYU is the only job I’ve wanted. I am prepared. I’m very confident.”

Reid joined the BYU staff after seven years as a prep basketball coach, at Utah’s Payson and Clearfield high schools.

He played freshman basketball at BYU, then transferred to Eastern Utah junior college, where he was a standout in both basketball and baseball. Reid moved to Weber State, where he played on the Wildcats’ All-Big Sky Conference basketball team and was a two-time all-league baseball player.

After four years in baseball’s minor leagues, with the Atlanta Braves and Chicago White Sox organizations, Reid returned to Utah to coach prep sports.

“I have great loyalty to this university,” he said. “I am committed to getting the job done. There’s great things ahead for BYU basketball.”