University of Minnesota Athletics
Dwight T. Reed
9/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
| Dwight T. Reed Class of 2005 Football 1935-37 |
A great blocking end that played opposite All-American Ray King, Dwight Reed was a great all-around athlete and comparable end to King. He played on the University’s 1935 and 1936 National Championship teams and its two Big Ten Conference Champion teams (1935 and 1937). During his three years at Minnesota, the football program compiled a 21-3 record.
Reed played during a time of national racial prejudice that prevented some minorities from playing college football and gaining the recognition that they deserved. The Big Ten offered the greatest opportunities; however, blacks had to have extraordinary ability to play for desegregated college teams. In 1935, Reed received unwanted national attention, when Tulane University refused to play the U of M’s homecoming game if Reed played. Reed spent the game in the press box, and the U of M took southern schools off future schedules.
Besides being a great football player, Reed was also a light-heavyweight intramural boxing champion and played semi-pro basketball for the Galloping Gophers.
After his playing days and serving in the United State Army’s infantry during World War II, Reed spent 44 years at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., coaching every major sport for at least three years and produced 93 All-Americans and numerous conference and NCAA individual champions. As a football coach he posted a 135-75-6 record in 23 years and placed over a half dozen professional football players in the NFL, as well as the Canadian Football League. He has the most wins and is the most successful football coach in Lincoln’s history. He also served as athletic director, men’s and women’s track and field coach and men’s basketball coach. During his tenure as athletic director he added five sports: women’s tennis, men’ basketball, wrestling, golf and baseball. His 1975 track and field team placed third at the NCAA Track and Field Championships. In 1981, Reed was named head track and field coach for the West team at the US Olympic Sports Festival. Lincoln University honored Reed in 1985 by naming it football stadium and track in his honor. That same year, he was also inducted into the Drake Relays Coaches Hall of Fame. He also served as a Big 8 and NCAA track referee. Reed passed away in 2000.
M Club Hall of Fame