STORRS, Conn. – University of Connecticut head men’s soccer coach Ray Reid has announced his retirement after leading the program for 25 years.
A Long Island, N.Y. native, Reid recently completed his 33rd season as a head coach, after holding the same position at Southern Connecticut State University, his alma mater, from 1989-96.
Reid has amassed a career head coaching record of 457-149-78, which is the second-highest total in history among coaches at four-year institutions who have coached a minimum of five years in Division I.
“My time at UConn has been a fantastic experience both professionally and personally,” Reid said in a statement. “Unfortunately, my mother and father continue to experience health challenges and I want to be there for them as much as possible. I’ve been blessed to work with great assistant coaches and fantastic players. I have also been afforded the opportunity to learn from and interact with some of the top coaches in the country on a daily basis here in Storrs.
“UConn Nation has always been good to me and our student-athletes and I want to thank everyone, including administrators, support staff and facilities staff, who have worked tirelessly to benefit UConn men’s soccer. Finally, I would like to thank Tony Rizza and his family for their generosity and vision. The Rizza Performance Center is a state-of-the-art facility that benefits dozens of student-athletes every day and will serve as a driving force behind the continued success of UConn athletics.”
A star at Brentwood H.S., Reid was an all-region selection at Suffolk Community College before transferring to Southern Connecticut prior to the 1980 season.
Reid’s many honors have been highlighted by four NCAA Division championships, including the 2000 Division I crown while at UConn, and the 1990, 1992, and 1995 NCAA Division II titles during his tenure at SCSU.
His teams have captured 25 NCAA Tournament berths and Reid retires with a 36-15-10 NCAA Tournament record, including a 24-12-7 mark as the head coach at UConn.
“On behalf of UConn Nation, I would like to express my gratitude to Coach Reid for his 25-years as the leader of our men’s soccer program,” director of athletics David Benedict said in a statement. “Ray Reid is synonymous with UConn men’s soccer and the program’s tremendous achievements over the last 25 years can be directly attributed to coach Reid’s dedication, expertise and passion. Coach Reid is a national champion, and part of the group of UConn coaches who established a culture of excellence here in Storrs. He has made a positive impact on the lives of hundreds of student-athletes and I wish he and his family all my best.”
Reid’s teams squads have appeared in eight College Cups and 13 NCAA quarterfinals. His teams at SCSU advanced to the quarterfinal round six times while the Huskies made seven NCAA Quarterfinal appearances.
The Huskies claimed 13 Big East Championships during his time in Storrs, and 46 student-athletes went on to be drafted by Major League Soccer, including three No. 1 selections. Reid’s coaching tree includes 19 former players or assistant coaches who are coaching at the Division I level, including 10 sitting head coaches.
A national search to identify Reid’s successor will begin immediately.
