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Alex Reid Class of 2011

10/24/2017

Will Sharpe

It was only five minutes into the first half of the NCAA basketball contest when Indiana was whistled for their sixth team foul. Coach Knight was given a technical foul for arguing that the foul against Daryl Thomas should have been a jump ball. After the tech was called on Knight and the shot was about to be taken, Coach Knight launched a chair from the Indiana team bench all the way across the court.

Alex Reid’s father, Steve Reid, was the Purdue player on the free throw line at the time of Knight’s chair toss. The red chair crossed the paint five feet from where Mr. Reid stood awaiting his foul shot opportunity.

Coach Reid’s father taught him the game of basketball and many life lessons using the sport as he grew up. Alex’s dad was a big influence on why he enjoyed and developed playing the game. Both Alex and his father are tall and athletic, so basketball was a good fit.

Coach Reid enrolled at Calvary at the beginning of his junior year of high school. During his sophomore year, he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. The move to Calvary Day School from South Effingham was a tough decision, leaving relationships and a comfortable atmosphere. Coach Reid wanted to pursue his faith more intensely, and he says Calvary was “the right choice for me.”

When Coach Reid took the leap of faith to enroll at Calvary, it came at a cost. He was not given a hardship from the Georgia High School Association and was forced to sit out from playing basketball his junior year. But during that time, he focused on his walk with God, his education, and building new relationships on campus. In his senior year, he was elected as Student Government Chaplain by his peers because they saw how committed he was to pursuing his faith. He also joined the Fellowship of Christian Athletes which met weekly to talk with others about the Christian faith and what he believed in.

“I enjoyed school and looked forward to coming to Calvary each and every day,” Reid told me. No matter if it was going to basketball practice, worshipping at chapel, or even taking tests, he loved being on campus. After graduation in 2011, Coach Reid earned a basketball scholarship to play at Georgia College and State University. “My collegiate career was something I’ll always cherish, and Calvary really helped prepare me for success at that level.” Since completing his degree in Mathematics, Coach Reid came back home to teach high school Algebra I, II and Geometry.

When I asked Coach Reid about some of his memories as a student at Calvary Day School, he didn’t hesitate to share with me about Dustin Dauphinee. “Dustin was a hard-working athlete and friend I met when enrolling my junior year. He passed away in a car accident in April of 2010, and it was one of the hardest things I have ever been through,” Alex shared. “But that memory was not a tragic one because of all of the amazing things God did through that time,” said Alex. Dustin’s life is still celebrated on our campus every year as the Dustin Dauphinee Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a senior football player who lives the Christian lifestyle that Dustin did. It was a very emotional time for many students at Calvary losing a friend, and something Alex still holds onto today. “I have no doubt Dustin looks down on Calvary and is proud of the legacy he left behind.”

When I think of Coach Reid I think of a very determined and motivating golf and basketball coach. He is a devoted Christian man, a loving husband, and father. He says one of his greatest moments as a husband came last year when his wife gave birth to their first child, Evey. “Becoming a parent really makes you appreciate many of the little things in life,” Alex told me. “It put into perspective what my parents have done for me,” Alex continued. “I have been blessed with two amazing parents, and my prayer is I can do for Evey as they did for me.”

Coach Reid’s actions on and off the golf course or basketball court are rarely changed. He is my golf coach here at Calvary, and I am thankful for him. He sets a great example of how me and the other players should conduct ourselves during school and at tournaments. Coach Reid helps tremendously with the mental aspect of the game and takes the time to help us on and off the course. I really appreciate all he has done for me over the past three years, and I look forward to my senior season learning from Coach Reid.

Having a chair throw across the basketball court by the opposing team’s coach while I toe the free-throw line in a hostile environment is a situation I doubt I’ll ever need to worry about. But I am glad I get to learn from the son of a man who has experienced that kind of pressure. I believe Coach Reid has prepared me to make the most of that type of moment.

Will Sharpe

Class of 2018

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