Former USM Athletic Director Reed Green Passes Away

Reed Green

Hattiesburg, Miss. - Longtime University of Southern Mississippi coach and athletic director Reed Green died Friday morning in Mobile, Ala., where he had lived for many years. He was 90.

Graveside services are scheduled for Monday morning at 11 o'clock at Roseland Park in Hattiesburg. Family members request donations be made to The University of Southern Mississippi Foundation, Reed Green Endowment, in lieu of flowers.

Green is survived by his wife, Becky, his daughter Becky McLeod, wife of former Golden Eagle football standout Dr. Andin McLeod, and son, Dr. Jim Green, himself an outstanding Golden Eagle athlete and currently an orthopaedic surgeon in Meridian, Miss., his wife Kay, along with six grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Longtime University President Aubrey Lucas credits Green with being the founder of intercollegiate athletics at USM. "He coached and later was long-time athletics director. He had the unusual ability to select and to keep outstanding coaches such as Thad "Pie" Vann, "Heifer" Stewart, H.A. Smith, Roland Dale, Pete Taylor, P.W. Underwood and Lee Floyd," said Lucas. "We are indebted to Reed for his superb service to our community."

A Leakesville, Miss., native known during his playing days as the "Leakesville Express," Green's association with his alma mater started when he arrived on campus as a "country boy from Leakesville -- down in Greene County -- with a true yearning to achieve an education and participate in athletics." (Green's words.) After earning a total of 10 letters in football, baseball and basketball and graduating in 1934, Green was retained by then-Head Football Coach Pooley Hubert as a graduate assistant coach.

He moved up to the head coach's position when Hubert left in 1937, and in nine seasons his teams compiled a 56-21-3 record.

A date with Uncle Sam during World War II saw Green attain the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the Navy. Upon his return, Green coached three more seasons and then became the University's first full-time Director of Athletics, in 1949. He then turned the coaching duties over to Thad (Pie) Vann.

His tenure as athletic director lasted until he was succeeded by Roland Dale in 1973, and Green, as coach and administrator, is credited with building the Golden Eagle athletic department into the vibrant, successful, nationally-recognized department it is today.

In the 90-year-plus history of the University, no name is better known than that of Reed Green. His leadership during those early, trying years helped make possible the stature and continued growth the University and, in particular, the athletic department enjoys today.

Green holds membership in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, the Southern Miss Sports Hall of Fame and the Golden Eagles' basketball facility, Green Coliseum, bears his name.

In its lengthy athletic history, Southern Miss has had only four athletic directors. Three remain alive today, and all are keenly aware of Green's contributions, and legacy. Current athletic director Richard Giannini said, "Reed Green was an outstanding coach and administrator. He established a solid athletic foundation at Southern Miss, and today we continue to reap the benfits of his efforts. The entire Green family was a big part of Southern Miss history and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. I had the opportunity two years ago to visit with Reed and Becky, and it was obvious that they never lost their tremendous love and passion for Southern Miss and Hattiesburg."

The man who succeeded Green in 1973, Roland Dale, said, "Coach Green made great contributions to the University, and I don't know of anyone, anywhere, who made more of a contribution to a university as a student athlete, coach and administrator."

Bill McLellan, who replaced Dale, was equally complimentary. "It was my pleasure to know Reed Green even before I came to Hattiesburg," said McLellan. "He probably had as tough a job as anyone in college athletics in those formative years, but did an outstanding job, with limited resources. He built a foundation and left a legacy that will always be a part of the University."