Jay Reid is entering his third season as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Lincoln Memorial University.
In his time at LMU, the team has posted a 52-10 (36-6 SAC) record. During the 2019-20 season, Reid helped the Railsplitters to a 32-1 (22-0 SAC) record and an all-divisions leading 32-game win streak that was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team was ranked in the top 25 for the entire season, the seventh occurrence since 2010-11, finishing the season at #2. The Railsplitters were also set to host the 2020 NCAA Southeast Regional. Courvoisier McCauley was named SAC Player of the Year, Cameron Henry was named SAC Defensive Player of the Year, and Devin Whitfield was named a first team all-conference performer. Anthony Brown and Henry were named to the second team.
In 2018-19, Reid helped the team to a 20-9 (14-6 SAC) record and an appearance in the SAC Tournament quarterfinals. Despite having one of the youngest rosters in the country, the team had five all-conference performers. Cornelius Taylor was named first team all-conference while Anthony Brown and Kamaran Calhoun were named to the honorable mention team. Cameron Henry and Courvoisier McCauley were named to the all-freshman team.
Prior to his arrival in Harrogate, Reid spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Newberry College, where he served as the program’s recruiting coordinator and oversaw the day-to-day player development. Reid also focused heavily on developing classroom discipline, helping the Wolves compile an overall team GPA of 3.5.
During Reid’s tenure, the Wolves went a combined 33-25, including an 18-11 mark during the 2016-17 campaign. Over that span, Newberry led both Division I and II in made three-pointers with an average of 14.3.
At Newberry, Reid was instrumental in the recruitment of players from five states, including Marshall Lange, who was later named the 2017 South Atlantic Conference Freshman of the Year and the ECAC Rookie of the Year. Reid also spearheaded the recruitment of Max Miller, who was tabbed as the 2018 SAC Freshman of the Year and a Division II Bulletin All-Freshman honoree.
Reid also mentored senior Rob Valentine, who averaged over 20 points per game in his only season with the Wolves to earn All-SAC first team, All-Southeast Region second team and All-ECAC first team accolades.
Reid came to Newberry after one season at USC-Salkehatchie, where he served as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for one of the youngest coaching staffs in the nation at any collegiate level. He helped direct an offense that produced an NJCAA All-American, Raheem Freeman, who averaged 22 points per game. Reid also assisted in the recruitment and development of five Division 1 players and three All-Americans during his short time at Salkehatchie.
Prior to his time at Salkehatchie, Reid coached at Davis & Elkins for two seasons under former LMU assistant Chris Cottrell. While at D&E, Reid recruited players into the program from eight states, and helped the Senators finish among the top of the GMAC in statistical categories such as field goal percentage offense, field goal percentage defense and overall rebounding.
During his first season, Reid helped the Senators earn their most wins in a season since the 1985-86 campaign. During conference tournament play, the Senators defeated Cedarville to register D&E’s first postseason win since 1980.
With Cottrell, Reid aided in the recruitment and development of several key players during his time with the Senators, including GMAC All-Freshman Team pick Rickenjee Bellevue and Freshman of the Year Kevin Simpson. Devin Miller was an All-GMAC first team pick and captured the league's scoring title. Kevin Bracy-Davis was a two-time All-conference first team player, the GMAC Player of the Year and an honorable mention All-American.
Prior to his time at Davis & Elkins, Reid spent four seasons with Wofford College as a student-assistant coach and practice squad member with the men’s basketball program.
In his four seasons at Wofford, the Terriers put up a 79-55 overall record and made three postseason appearances, including trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2010 and 2011, which resulted in single digit losses to Wisconsin and BYU. Reid played a role in all facets of the program, including the recruitment process of the 2014 and 2015 Southern Conference championship teams.
Currently working on his master's degree in athletic administration, Reid graduated from Wofford College in 2013 with a degree in economics and a certification to teach high school social studies. Reid is originally from Lexington, S.C., where he played for his father, Joey, and legendary Coach Bailey Harris, at Lexington High School.
