Southern Mississippi head football coach Blake Anderson announced Friday the hiring of Issac Reed as the team’s new running backs coach. Reed joins the Golden Eagles after three seasons at Eastern Michigan.
Reed has nine years of coaching experience at the Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, and Division III levels. His playing career included time as a kick returner and running back at Baldwin Wallace University. He was a finalist for the 2020 FootballScoop Coach of the Year Award, according to the university.
During his time at Eastern Michigan, Reed oversaw 1,000-yard rusher Donta McMillan, who finished with 1,014 yards in 2023. He also helped develop Delbert Mimms III, who rushed 184 times for 805 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024, adding 19 receptions for 145 yards and a receiving touchdown.
Reed’s 2023 running backs set new heights, with Samson Evans rushing for 12 touchdowns, marking his third straight season with double-digit scores. Evans later earned an invite to rookie camp with the Miami Dolphins, one of three Eagles to receive NFL opportunities after that season. Jaylon Jackson also earned All-MAC Second Team honors, becoming one of just five MAC players to return a kickoff for a touchdown and ranking 39th nationally with an average of 21.4 yards per return.
Reed’s coaching career includes stints at Rutgers, Southeast Missouri State, Buffalo, and Ohio Wesleyan University. He served as an offensive quality control assistant at Rutgers in 2022 and as running backs coach and special teams coordinator at SEMO in 2021. At SEMO, he helped the Redhawks lead the FCS in red zone offense and produce the Ohio Valley Conference’s second-best rushing offense.
While at Buffalo, Reed coached All-American Jaret Patterson, who led the nation in rushing and tied an FBS record with eight rushing touchdowns in a game against Kent State. Patterson earned All-America honors and was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year. Reed also contributed to Kevin Marks’ notable season, earning All-MAC Third Team honors.
Reed began his coaching career at Baldwin Wallace, his alma mater, in 2016. He helped develop running back Austin Smith, who earned All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors. Reed holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Baldwin Wallace and a master’s in educational studies from Buffalo. He and his wife, Nicole, have a daughter named Bryelle.
