From the fall of 1984 to the spring of 1988, Greg Reeds made a huge impact on athletics at Acadia University both as head coach of the men’s soccer team and as an enthusiastic supporter of the University’s athletes and their wide area of sports interests.
Greg’s background experience with the game of soccer included participation at both McMaster and the University of Toronto. He further developed his skills by performing with the Guelph Oaks soccer Club and the Hamilton Sparta Football Club in Ontario’s Premier Division. He received degrees from McMaster, University of Toronto, and a master’s degree from Windsor University and a doctorate from the University of Buffalo, both in Sports Psychology.
Appearing on the Acadia Campus during the fall of 1984, head coach Reeds and his assistant, Darren Porter, guided the soccer Axemen to a very exciting season in action against fine teams rated among the nation’s top ten. Four of their contests were lost by a single goal. In action during the 1984-85 season against UPEI, rated number one in Canada, Reeds’ team held the Panthers scoreless for sixty minutes before suffering a defeat.
Following further team improvement during the 1985-86 schedule, the Reeds -directed soccer Axemen became very competitive. Their last-place finish in the East Division was misleading as the final playoff position narrowly eluded them. The team’s ten points left them just two short of the second and final playoff position in their division. Reed’s Axemen handed UNB -rated number ten in the nation -their only loss in scheduled play.
.His final season as the Axemen’s coach was climactic as he guided them through a regular schedule with eight wins, three losses and two ties. Following their victory in the semi-final round, the Axemen came within six minutes of a trip to the national tournament.
As a testament to Greg’s ability he was chosen AUAA Coach of the Year in 1986 and again in 1988 for a job exceedingly well done.
Following his departure from Acadia he went to Buffalo as an associate professor of physical education at Canisius where he has guided their soccer team to highly commendable achievements.
It is indeed a pleasure to welcome for induction to Acadia’s Sports Hall of Fame an excellent soccer coach and builder of the Acadia Soccer program -Dr Greg Reeds.
