Following an Eastern Hall of Fame playing career in the early 1970s.Willimantic native Len Reed moves into his 24th season with the program -- 22nd as an assistant to head coach Bill Holowaty.

 The coaching stint is the third at Eastern for Reed, who has coached 21 seasons (1985-93, 2000, '02-'11) after lettering under Holowaty for three years.

Reed was a freshman on Holowaty's second team in 1970, and was a starter on NAIA District 32 post-season tournament qualifiers in 1970, '72, and '73. The 1972 and '73 teams won the program's first two district championships, with the '73 team capturing the program's first NAIA Area 8 title and advancing to a second-place finish at the NAIA national tournament at Phoeniz, AZ. 

As a freshman in 1970, Reed batted .410 and earned the distinction as the program's first All-America when he was a second-team outfield selection by the NAIA. As a senior, he batted .350 and was named to the all-district team for the second time. In 2006, fellow Windham High School graduate Shawn Gilblair became the second Eastern freshman to gain All-America honors when he was chosen as the first team utility player.

 In his 24-year association with Eastern, Reed has contributed as a player or assistant coach to 20 post-season tournament qualifiers. Ten of those teams  captured regional championships and two (1990, 2002) won national titles. 

At Eastern, Reed was also a four-year basketball letterwinner under former head coach Clyde Washburne. He gained induction into the Eastern/E-Club Hall of Fame in the fall of 1989. 

Reed holds a B.S. Degree in Applied Social Relations and resides with wife Sandra in nearby Lebanon. The Reeds have two grown children, Melissa and Joshua.

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