A Life of Leadership
Don Reid, the longtime men’s basketball coach whose name became synonymous with excellence at Merced College, died last week at the age of 89. His passing was confirmed by the college’s athletic department, which noted that the court at the campus was later named in his honor.
Over a career that spanned more than three decades, Reid guided the Blue Devils to back‑to‑back state junior college championships in 1978 and 1979, a feat that helped cement his reputation as one of the most successful coaches in California community college history.
He served as the first head men’s basketball coach at Merced College from 1963 until his retirement in 1988, compiling a record that included 14 conference titles and a streak in which his teams finished first or second in 21 of 24 seasons. Reid’s impact extended beyond the Valley, as he later took the reins of the United Arab Emirates National Olympic team in the late 1980s.
Under his guidance, the college launched its women’s basketball program in 1992, a venture that would later be taken over by Allen Huddleston Sr., who would go on to win nearly 500 games. Reid’s contributions were recognized with two California Coach of the Year awards and inductions into the Merced College Athletic Hall of Fame, the California Community College Men’s Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and the Sonora High Athletic Hall of Fame.
Born in 1937 and raised in the Central Valley, Reid graduated from Sonora High School before earning a degree from Modesto Junior College and later completing his studies at San Jose State University. His early coaching stints at Manteca High School produced a 106‑29 record over five seasons, setting the stage for his future success.