Bob Reade

Bio

Bob Reade coached 16 years at Augustana (IL). His record was 146-23-1. His winning percentage, .862 was the third highest in college football history when he retired after the 1994 season. The Vikings won four straight national championships in NCAA Division III, 1983-86. In the championship games, Augustana beat Union (NY) 21-17 in 1993, Central (IA) 21-12 in 1984, Ithaca 20-7 in 1985, and Salisbury 31-3 in 1986. In 1982, Augustana was Division III runner-up, losing to West Georgia 14-0. The Vikings were in the playoffs 11 times in Reade's 16 years. Reade's teams won 12 championships in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. The Vikings in 1983-87 had an unbeaten streak of 60 games. This was the second longest streak in college football history. The Vikings had winning streaks of 37 and 22 games, with a tie in between. In the decade of the 1980's Augustana was 103-10-1, a winning percentage of .908, the best in college football history. In 1993, he wrote a book, "Coaching Football Successfully." His philosophy was "run the football and play hard-nosed defense." In a typical game the Vikings would rush for over 300 yards and hold the opponent under ten points. The American Football Coaches Association named him Coach of the Year four times and in 1998 gave him the Stagg Award for "services outstanding in the advancement of the best interests of football." Grant Teaff, executive director of the coaches association, said, "His sustained excellence may never be equaled." Reade was the first coach to win 100 games in his first ten years. Bob Reade attended Monticello High School and was on the football, basketball, and baseball teams. He attended Cornell College, was center and linebacker in football and catcher on the baseball team. He coached 17 years, 1962-78, at Darnall High School in Geneseo, Illinois. His record was 146-21-4, a percentage of .865. His team won state 3-A championships in 1976-77-78.