FAIRHOPE — It's usually coaches who acquire the aura of being an institution at a school. But Will Reid has been so involved in Fairhope High athletics for so long, it almost seems like he retired — not graduated — Tuesday.
But graduate he did a week after signing scholarship letters to the University of South Alabama to join their Video Operations department in the football program which kicks off its first season this fall.
"Well, it's exciting," he said. "A new program getting started. To be a part of all that is going to be very exciting."
Reid started out helping on the sidelines as a third grader when his older brother Joey played football for the Pirates.
"After coach (Mark) Lasseter came in, he made me feel like a real part of the team and it just grew from there."
Lasseter, who retired in February as the athletic director and head football coach for Fairhope, was also at the signing.
"No way I would miss it," Lasseter said. "Will was already here when I got here so, I guess, you could say he is an institution here. But he has been on the sideline for every ball game. As years progressed he went from being water boy, equipment manager and so on. Then he got more and more responsibility and eventually he took over the video department and he's so conscientious. He just does great, quality work. And he was really a huge part of our football team. He did it all, not just football, but basketball, baseball, girls and boys sports. He did announcing for us in soccer and baseball. He helped with the banquets. He did a lot of really good things for the school and the community that a lot of people probably don't realize. But he loves Fairhope High School and all those things helped put him where he is today and South Alabama's getting a fine one. They really are."
Toward the end of his sophomore year, Reid began concentrating on producing video for coaches to analyze and for players to use in their college scholarship searches. He was set to enroll at the University of Mississippi and to do videography there when one of the many favors he routinely does turned into a lesson in just how small the world can be.
"Just from helping out my friend Logan Rogers with his highlight video after he transferred to Spanish Fort, I got to know coach (Bryant) Vincent up there and he has a great relationship with Joey Jones (South Alabama's head football coach). Well, coach Vincent put in a good word to coach Jones knowing they would be needing people for that and all the Fairhope coaches backed it up with their positive responses. It was just an amazing thing. At Ole Miss, it would have all been voluntary, no scholarship. But South will pay 50 percent of everything so I owe a special thanks to coach Vincent for making this possible. I also want to thank coach Lasseter for all his motivation throughout the years. He's always been a positive influence in my life. And number one, of course, my parents. They have always backed me up in what I do. Even though I'm not an athlete, they showed me that I could still be an important part of the team. The coaching staff at Fairhope always made me feel that way and, not like I just helped out, but really contributed to the whole effort and that will always mean a lot to me."
Reid is the son of Jack Reid, Jr. and Bethany Reid of Fairhope. He plans to major in business and after college possibly pursue a career in the sports video arena.
