Lehigh University Athletics
Staff Directory
Brett Reed
- Title:
- Murray H. Goodman '48 Head Coach
- Email:
- Alma Mater:
- Eckerd '95BA, Wayne State '97MA, '03PhD
The 2025-26 season is Brett Reed’s 19th as the Murray H. Goodman ’48 Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Lehigh University. In 19 years on the sideline, Reed has become the winningest coach in Lehigh history and has won nearly 70 percent of his games at Stabler Arena. Reed is the Patriot League’s longest-tenured coach and the fastest coach in league history to reach 100, 200 and 300 career victories. In 2026, he became just the second coach in Patriot League history to surpass the 300-win mark.
During the 2012-13 season, Reed won his 100th career game and became the fastest coach to 100 wins in the history of the Patriot League. The same season, he also became the all-time winningest coach in school history. Early in the 2018-19 season, he reached 200 career victories, and he passed 250 with a win over Monmouth University in November of 2022. Reed’s 300th win came in a 70-67 win over Boston University on February 22 in the 2025-26 season.
Reed owns a 52.5 career winning percentage, among the best in Patriot League history and second among active coaches. Reed’s 305 overall wins and 172 Patriot League victories are both second in league history.
Reed has consistently won at Lehigh, eclipsing 20 wins multiple times during his tenure and accumulating the three highest win totals in program history (27, 22 and 21 victories). From 2009–13, the Mountain Hawks eclipsed 20 wins three times in a four-year span while making three national postseason appearances. The Mountain Hawks have won three Patriot League championships under Reed (2010, 2012 and 2026), advancing to the NCAA Tournament each time, while also reaching the College Basketball Invitational in 2013. Lehigh reached back-to-back Patriot League Championship Games in 2016 and 2017, marking the third and fourth times in eight seasons the Mountain Hawks played in the title game. In 2018-19, Reed led Lehigh to 20 victories for the fifth time in 10 years, finishing in the top four of the league standings in nine of the last 10 seasons.
Lehigh has developed plenty of impressive talent in Reed’s tenure, led by two-time All-American and Patriot League Player of the Year C. J. McCollum ’13 who was selected 10th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2013 NBA Draft and developed into an NBA star. McCollum has averaged at least 20.0 points per game in ten seasons and was only the second player in Patriot League history to be drafted. Reed also coached a two-time Patriot League Player of the Year in Tim Kempton Jr. ’17, who was invited to play for the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Summer League following graduation before signing a professional contract overseas. During Reed’s tenure, the program has produced an Associated Press Preseason All-American (2012), two two-time Patriot League Players of the Year (2010, 2012, 2015, 2016), four Patriot League Rookies of the Year (2007, 2010, 2014, 2015), an ECAC Player of the Year (2012), two Patriot League Scholar-Athletes of the Year (2009, 2010), two NCAA Senior CLASS Award finalists (2010, 2012), 39 All-League selections, 22 Patriot League All-Tournament Team selections and three Patriot League Tournament MVPs. Reed has recruited at an extremely effective rate, as 25 alumni signed professional contracts during his first 19 years as head coach.
Reed won his third Patriot League championship this season in a 74-60 victory over Boston University on March 11. The second-seeded Mountain Hawks went 11-7 across Patriot League play, earning sweeps over third-seeded Colgate, fourth-seeded BU, and fifth-seeded American. Junior guard Nasir Whitlock blossomed into a 20+ point per game scorer, first team All-Patriot League selection, finalist for the Lou Henson Award, and Patriot League Tournament MVP. Sophomore Hank Alvey was named to the second team All-Patriot League while he and classmate Edouard Benoit were academic All-Patriot League selections. In addition, Reed was recognized nationally in 2026 as a finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award.
The 2011-12 season was a special one for Reed, when the Mountain Hawks posted a school-record 27 wins, along with the program’s third Patriot League Championship (and second in three years). The highlight was a historic 75-70 NCAA Tournament win over Duke Blue Devils men's basketball, becoming only the sixth No. 15 seed to ever defeat a No. 2 seed. McCollum led the way with 30 points as Lehigh never trailed by more than five and held the lead for much of the contest. The Mountain Hawks’ largest lead came in the final minute (eight) as the squad always had an answer for Duke’s runs. The victory earned an ESPY Awards nomination for Best Upset in Sports, while Reed was also named a finalist for the 2012 Hugh Durham Award.
That game helped put the Lehigh men’s basketball program squarely on the map. In the days following the win, the Mountain Hawks were featured across numerous national outlets including ESPN, Sports Illustrated and USA Today. The 2011-12 season also featured a school record for non-league wins (12) as the Mountain Hawks shattered the previous program record of 22 victories. Along the way, Lehigh competed closely with power conference opponents including NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed Michigan State Spartans men's basketball, holding a 38-35 halftime lead.
Reed’s accomplishments during the 2012-13 academic year were also recognized nationally as he received the 2013 National Association of Basketball Coaches Guardians of the Game Pillar Award for Education and was named a finalist for the 2013 Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award.
The Mountain Hawks earned two more wins against power conference foes during the 2014-15 season as Lehigh took a major step toward returning to championship contention. The season was highlighted by wins over DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball and Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball along with a tight loss to eventual NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed Villanova Wildcats men's basketball. Lehigh rebounded by winning seven of eight games midway through the Patriot League schedule and later dominated eventual regular season champion Bucknell Bison men's basketball to clinch a home Patriot League Quarterfinal.
Several individuals elevated their play in 2014-15, highlighted by Kempton who was named Patriot League Player of the Year as a sophomore. Along with Kempton, first-year guard Kahron Ross became the Mountain Hawks’ fifth Patriot League Rookie of the Year in nine seasons, joining Marquis Hall (2007), Rob Keefer (2008), McCollum (2010) and Kempton (2014). Ross also set a single-game school record with 14 assists in the win at Arizona State.
Lehigh rebounded from a slow start in 2015-16 by winning 11 straight games beginning in early February, tying the program’s 90-year school record. The Mountain Hawks surged to the No. 2 seed in the league tournament and hosted the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship game. It marked the sixth time in seven seasons that Lehigh hosted at least one Patriot League Tournament game. The Mountain Hawks finished with a school-record 13 Patriot League victories.
Kempton and Ross were each named first team All-Patriot League, marking the first time in school history that Lehigh featured multiple first-team honorees. Ross broke the school’s single-season assist record (194), previously held by Mackey McKnight. Kempton was also named Patriot League Player of the Year for the second straight season, becoming just the third player in league history to earn the honor twice before his senior season, joining McCollum and Adonal Foyle. As a team, Lehigh finished the season 15th nationally in three-point percentage (39.2).
The Mountain Hawks finished the 2016-17 season with a 20-12 record, tied for second in the league standings before defeating Colgate Raiders men's basketball and Boston University Terriers men's basketball in the Patriot League Tournament to reach their second straight title game. Among Lehigh’s wins was an 87-73 victory at Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball, the program’s first win over a Southeastern Conference opponent. The Mountain Hawks also defeated eventual Ivy League champion Princeton Tigers men's basketball as part of four victories over NCAA Tournament teams.
Reed’s first Patriot League title as head coach came in 2009-10 when he led the Mountain Hawks to their second Patriot League Tournament Championship, the program’s first outright regular season league title and the most wins in school history at the time. The team also set the school record for wins at Stabler Arena and led the Patriot League in scoring offense, scoring margin, three-point percentage, assist-to-turnover ratio and defensive rebounds. Their 220 made three-pointers established a school record. The starting five of Dave Buchberger, Zahir Carrington, Hall, McCollum and Gabe Knutson also excelled academically, combining for a 3.2 GPA.
Lehigh’s commitment to excellence in the classroom has been a hallmark of Reed’s program as well. The Mountain Hawks earned the NCAA Public Recognition Award for finishing among the top 10 percent nationally in academic performance in multiple years from 2007–19 and again from 2022–26.
Reed was named Lehigh’s head coach on August 10, 2007 after serving five seasons as an assistant coach, including the 2006-07 campaign as associate head coach.
Prior to his time at Lehigh, Reed served as the top assistant coach at High Point University for two seasons. During that span, the Panthers advanced to the Big South Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Championship Game in 2002 while Reed helped recruit both a Big South Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year.
Reed spent the 1999-2000 season as Director of Basketball Operations at University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He began his collegiate coaching career at Oakland Community College where he served as an assistant coach under his father.
A native of Waterford, Michigan, Reed attended Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida where he played point guard and helped lead his team to a conference championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Reed graduated with honors in 1995 before earning his master’s degree from Wayne State University in 1998. In 2003, Reed earned his Ph.D. from Wayne State in Instructional Technology with a cognate in Sports Administration, becoming one of only two Division I men’s basketball head coaches to hold a doctoral degree. During his academic career he received numerous honors including the prestigious Thomas C. Rumbell Fellowship.
Reed and his wife Kindra reside in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with their sons Brendan and Calvin and daughter Makenna.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT COACH REED
“Brett Reed is an excellent basketball coach. He has led the resurgence of Lehigh basketball and turned it into a power from the Patriot League. He’s building a program that can withstand one of sport’s ultimate challenges – the test of time. It is undoubtedly an impressive accomplishment.”
- Mike Krzyzewski, former Duke University and U.S. National Team Head Coach
“I’ve known Brett Reed for over 10 years, and was fortunate to have him on my staff and watch him develop as a coach. I strongly believe Brett is one of the best young coaches in the country. His performance in 2011-12 was as good as or better than anyone in our profession. He’s an excellent basketball coach on the floor, has incredible demeanor on the sideline and has proven that he is a top-notch recruiter.”
- Fran McCaffery, former Lehigh and current University of Pennsylvania Hed Coach
“I am very proud of the success Brett has enjoyed as the head men’s basketball coach at Lehigh University. Brett is extremely intelligent, hard-working and passionate about the game of basketball and is a terrific role model for the young men in his program. I am excited for what Brett has been able to accomplish in his short time as the head coach at Lehigh and am confident that he will continue to be successful for many years to come.”
- Billy Taylor, former Lehigh and current Elon Head Coach
“Brett Reed is respected by our student-athletes, he is an excellent teacher and communicator and has been an extremely productive recruiter. I admire his values, his work ethic, his energy and his devotion to our players, their education and their experience.”
- Joe Sterrett, Former Lehigh Murray H. Goodman Dean of Athletics
During the 2012-13 season, Reed won his 100th career game and became the fastest coach to 100 wins in the history of the Patriot League. The same season, he also became the all-time winningest coach in school history. Early in the 2018-19 season, he reached 200 career victories, and he passed 250 with a win over Monmouth University in November of 2022. Reed’s 300th win came in a 70-67 win over Boston University on February 22 in the 2025-26 season.
Reed owns a 52.5 career winning percentage, among the best in Patriot League history and second among active coaches. Reed’s 305 overall wins and 172 Patriot League victories are both second in league history.
Reed has consistently won at Lehigh, eclipsing 20 wins multiple times during his tenure and accumulating the three highest win totals in program history (27, 22 and 21 victories). From 2009–13, the Mountain Hawks eclipsed 20 wins three times in a four-year span while making three national postseason appearances. The Mountain Hawks have won three Patriot League championships under Reed (2010, 2012 and 2026), advancing to the NCAA Tournament each time, while also reaching the College Basketball Invitational in 2013. Lehigh reached back-to-back Patriot League Championship Games in 2016 and 2017, marking the third and fourth times in eight seasons the Mountain Hawks played in the title game. In 2018-19, Reed led Lehigh to 20 victories for the fifth time in 10 years, finishing in the top four of the league standings in nine of the last 10 seasons.
Lehigh has developed plenty of impressive talent in Reed’s tenure, led by two-time All-American and Patriot League Player of the Year C. J. McCollum ’13 who was selected 10th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2013 NBA Draft and developed into an NBA star. McCollum has averaged at least 20.0 points per game in ten seasons and was only the second player in Patriot League history to be drafted. Reed also coached a two-time Patriot League Player of the Year in Tim Kempton Jr. ’17, who was invited to play for the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Summer League following graduation before signing a professional contract overseas. During Reed’s tenure, the program has produced an Associated Press Preseason All-American (2012), two two-time Patriot League Players of the Year (2010, 2012, 2015, 2016), four Patriot League Rookies of the Year (2007, 2010, 2014, 2015), an ECAC Player of the Year (2012), two Patriot League Scholar-Athletes of the Year (2009, 2010), two NCAA Senior CLASS Award finalists (2010, 2012), 39 All-League selections, 22 Patriot League All-Tournament Team selections and three Patriot League Tournament MVPs. Reed has recruited at an extremely effective rate, as 25 alumni signed professional contracts during his first 19 years as head coach.
Reed won his third Patriot League championship this season in a 74-60 victory over Boston University on March 11. The second-seeded Mountain Hawks went 11-7 across Patriot League play, earning sweeps over third-seeded Colgate, fourth-seeded BU, and fifth-seeded American. Junior guard Nasir Whitlock blossomed into a 20+ point per game scorer, first team All-Patriot League selection, finalist for the Lou Henson Award, and Patriot League Tournament MVP. Sophomore Hank Alvey was named to the second team All-Patriot League while he and classmate Edouard Benoit were academic All-Patriot League selections. In addition, Reed was recognized nationally in 2026 as a finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award.
The 2011-12 season was a special one for Reed, when the Mountain Hawks posted a school-record 27 wins, along with the program’s third Patriot League Championship (and second in three years). The highlight was a historic 75-70 NCAA Tournament win over Duke Blue Devils men's basketball, becoming only the sixth No. 15 seed to ever defeat a No. 2 seed. McCollum led the way with 30 points as Lehigh never trailed by more than five and held the lead for much of the contest. The Mountain Hawks’ largest lead came in the final minute (eight) as the squad always had an answer for Duke’s runs. The victory earned an ESPY Awards nomination for Best Upset in Sports, while Reed was also named a finalist for the 2012 Hugh Durham Award.
That game helped put the Lehigh men’s basketball program squarely on the map. In the days following the win, the Mountain Hawks were featured across numerous national outlets including ESPN, Sports Illustrated and USA Today. The 2011-12 season also featured a school record for non-league wins (12) as the Mountain Hawks shattered the previous program record of 22 victories. Along the way, Lehigh competed closely with power conference opponents including NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed Michigan State Spartans men's basketball, holding a 38-35 halftime lead.
Reed’s accomplishments during the 2012-13 academic year were also recognized nationally as he received the 2013 National Association of Basketball Coaches Guardians of the Game Pillar Award for Education and was named a finalist for the 2013 Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award.
The Mountain Hawks earned two more wins against power conference foes during the 2014-15 season as Lehigh took a major step toward returning to championship contention. The season was highlighted by wins over DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball and Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball along with a tight loss to eventual NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed Villanova Wildcats men's basketball. Lehigh rebounded by winning seven of eight games midway through the Patriot League schedule and later dominated eventual regular season champion Bucknell Bison men's basketball to clinch a home Patriot League Quarterfinal.
Several individuals elevated their play in 2014-15, highlighted by Kempton who was named Patriot League Player of the Year as a sophomore. Along with Kempton, first-year guard Kahron Ross became the Mountain Hawks’ fifth Patriot League Rookie of the Year in nine seasons, joining Marquis Hall (2007), Rob Keefer (2008), McCollum (2010) and Kempton (2014). Ross also set a single-game school record with 14 assists in the win at Arizona State.
Lehigh rebounded from a slow start in 2015-16 by winning 11 straight games beginning in early February, tying the program’s 90-year school record. The Mountain Hawks surged to the No. 2 seed in the league tournament and hosted the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship game. It marked the sixth time in seven seasons that Lehigh hosted at least one Patriot League Tournament game. The Mountain Hawks finished with a school-record 13 Patriot League victories.
Kempton and Ross were each named first team All-Patriot League, marking the first time in school history that Lehigh featured multiple first-team honorees. Ross broke the school’s single-season assist record (194), previously held by Mackey McKnight. Kempton was also named Patriot League Player of the Year for the second straight season, becoming just the third player in league history to earn the honor twice before his senior season, joining McCollum and Adonal Foyle. As a team, Lehigh finished the season 15th nationally in three-point percentage (39.2).
The Mountain Hawks finished the 2016-17 season with a 20-12 record, tied for second in the league standings before defeating Colgate Raiders men's basketball and Boston University Terriers men's basketball in the Patriot League Tournament to reach their second straight title game. Among Lehigh’s wins was an 87-73 victory at Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball, the program’s first win over a Southeastern Conference opponent. The Mountain Hawks also defeated eventual Ivy League champion Princeton Tigers men's basketball as part of four victories over NCAA Tournament teams.
Reed’s first Patriot League title as head coach came in 2009-10 when he led the Mountain Hawks to their second Patriot League Tournament Championship, the program’s first outright regular season league title and the most wins in school history at the time. The team also set the school record for wins at Stabler Arena and led the Patriot League in scoring offense, scoring margin, three-point percentage, assist-to-turnover ratio and defensive rebounds. Their 220 made three-pointers established a school record. The starting five of Dave Buchberger, Zahir Carrington, Hall, McCollum and Gabe Knutson also excelled academically, combining for a 3.2 GPA.
Lehigh’s commitment to excellence in the classroom has been a hallmark of Reed’s program as well. The Mountain Hawks earned the NCAA Public Recognition Award for finishing among the top 10 percent nationally in academic performance in multiple years from 2007–19 and again from 2022–26.
Reed was named Lehigh’s head coach on August 10, 2007 after serving five seasons as an assistant coach, including the 2006-07 campaign as associate head coach.
Prior to his time at Lehigh, Reed served as the top assistant coach at High Point University for two seasons. During that span, the Panthers advanced to the Big South Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Championship Game in 2002 while Reed helped recruit both a Big South Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year.
Reed spent the 1999-2000 season as Director of Basketball Operations at University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He began his collegiate coaching career at Oakland Community College where he served as an assistant coach under his father.
A native of Waterford, Michigan, Reed attended Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida where he played point guard and helped lead his team to a conference championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Reed graduated with honors in 1995 before earning his master’s degree from Wayne State University in 1998. In 2003, Reed earned his Ph.D. from Wayne State in Instructional Technology with a cognate in Sports Administration, becoming one of only two Division I men’s basketball head coaches to hold a doctoral degree. During his academic career he received numerous honors including the prestigious Thomas C. Rumbell Fellowship.
Reed and his wife Kindra reside in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with their sons Brendan and Calvin and daughter Makenna.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT COACH REED
“Brett Reed is an excellent basketball coach. He has led the resurgence of Lehigh basketball and turned it into a power from the Patriot League. He’s building a program that can withstand one of sport’s ultimate challenges – the test of time. It is undoubtedly an impressive accomplishment.”
- Mike Krzyzewski, former Duke University and U.S. National Team Head Coach
“I’ve known Brett Reed for over 10 years, and was fortunate to have him on my staff and watch him develop as a coach. I strongly believe Brett is one of the best young coaches in the country. His performance in 2011-12 was as good as or better than anyone in our profession. He’s an excellent basketball coach on the floor, has incredible demeanor on the sideline and has proven that he is a top-notch recruiter.”
- Fran McCaffery, former Lehigh and current University of Pennsylvania Hed Coach
“I am very proud of the success Brett has enjoyed as the head men’s basketball coach at Lehigh University. Brett is extremely intelligent, hard-working and passionate about the game of basketball and is a terrific role model for the young men in his program. I am excited for what Brett has been able to accomplish in his short time as the head coach at Lehigh and am confident that he will continue to be successful for many years to come.”
- Billy Taylor, former Lehigh and current Elon Head Coach
“Brett Reed is respected by our student-athletes, he is an excellent teacher and communicator and has been an extremely productive recruiter. I admire his values, his work ethic, his energy and his devotion to our players, their education and their experience.”
- Joe Sterrett, Former Lehigh Murray H. Goodman Dean of Athletics
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