YPSILANTI – Fred Reed, an assistant coach for the Eastern Michigan University football team, has died, school officials announced on Sunday.
Reed, 54, was the team’s defensive pass game coordinator and safeties coach. He died on Sunday, but officials did not provide a cause of death.
Reed spent seven years in Ypsilanti, and had been in the coaching ranks for 27 years – two professionally, with the Detroit Lions, and 25 at the collegiate level.
EMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee said “we are devastated to learn of Coach Reed's passing.”
Reed is survived by his wife, La'Shannon, and their two children, Amar'e Reed and Khamara. Amar'e previously announced that he would be joining the EMU football program this coming season.
"Fred was the ultimate model of a husband, father, friend, and coach. Our hearts go out to his wife, La'Shannon, his children, Amar'e and Khamara, and anyone who was lucky enough to have known him. He will be dearly missed,” Wetherbee said.
Head coach Chris Creighton said “it is impossible to capture what he means to all of us right now.”
School officials say grief counselors will be made available for student-athletes, coaches and staff.
Details about opportunities to remember Reed are expected to be released in the near future.
Reed was a 1994 graduate of Colorado Mesa University with a bachelor's degree in recreation management. He played free safety for the Mavericks from 1991-92 before getting into coaching. Prior to joining EMU, Reed had coaching stops with Syracuse, Ohio University, Buffalo, Michigan Tech, Nebraska-Omaha, South Dakota and Minnesota Morris.
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