DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Pro Football Hall of Famer safety Ed Reed will not be the next football coach at Bethune-Cookman.
The Ed Reed Foundation was announced on social media on Saturday that the university declined to ratify Reed’s contract and “will not honor the agreement that we had in principle, which contained the arrangements and resources best needed to support student-athletes.”
The decision comes less than a week after Reed tore up the school with profanity in a social media post that went viral. He accused Bethune-Cookman of having a dirty campus and not cleaning his office before he arrived. He then threatened to leave, saying he had to “dispose of rubbish” even though he wasn’t even signed yet.
Reed apologized the next day for “my lack of professionalism.”
“My language and tone were unacceptable as a father, coach and leader,” he wrote in a social media post. “I was overwhelmed by my passion for our culture, improving and promoting our foundation, and I became a victim when I also confronted antagonists on social media.”
Now, Reed and the Wildcats part ways before they even get started.
“I am dedicated to coaching and nurturing relationships with the university, players, community and fans,” the statement said on Saturday. “It is extremely disappointing that this will not happen.”
Reed’s foundation reiterated her commitment to helping children and “changing lives for the better, as we have been doing for 20 years.”
Reed played in Miami and has spent the last three years in an administrative role with the Hurricanes, first as chief of staff for two years under former coach Manny Diaz and last year as senior advisor under coach Mario Cristobal.
Reed had been selected to replace Terry Sims at Bethune-Cookman. Sims was fired after going 38-39 in seven seasons at the historically black varsity, and when the school made that move, Reggie Theus – the Wildcats’ longtime NBA player – said he would hire someone who “can make sure that we not only build a championship culture on the field, but also strive for academic excellence and career success off the field.”
Reed was a five-time All-Pro Safety, member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, 2004 Defensive Player of the Year, and made nine Pro Bowls. He had 64 career interceptions, leading the league in that statistic three times and notching 13 non-offense touchdowns during his career with the Baltimore Ravens.
In Miami in 2001, Reed was part of the Hurricanes’ youngest national title team. He set school records for career interceptions (21) and interception return yards (369), won a Big East javelin throwing championship in 1999, and graduated with a liberal arts degree.
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