Neil Reed, 36, passed away suddenly Thursday morning, July 26, at Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria, CA. He was surrounded by his family and many close friends.
Neil will be remembered as a wonderful son and brother, devoted husband, adoring father and faithful friend.
Neil was born in Hot Springs, Ar on November 29,1975.
From the moment he could dribble a basketball, Neil developed a passion for the game. When he graduated from East Jefferson High School in Metairie, LA in 1994 and awarded the honor of MacDonald's All-American, he went on to fulfill a dream and played college ball at Indiana University. He was a Hoosier from 1995-1997 and then transferred to Southern Mississippi as an Academic All-American with a degree in Coaching and Sports Administration.
Neil Reed, the former Indiana basketball player who coach Bob Knight was caught on tape choking in 1997.
Pioneer Valley High School said Reed died Thursday morning of heart complications in Nipomo, Calif.
In March 2000, Reed accused Knight of choking him during a practice in 1997. When video of the practice surfaced backing Reed's claim, the Hall of Fame coach, who was known for his temper as well as his success, was put on a zero-tolerance policy by then-Indiana University President Dr. Myles Brand. That September, Knight, who became head coach at Indiana in 1971 and won three national championships, was fired after a student accused him of grabbing his arm.
"Believe it or not, I'm not happy that Indiana fired Coach Knight," Reed told ESPN The Magazine at the time. "I don't have any feelings about it, mostly because I've had to stand alone for so long. In a way, I've been proven right, but that doesn't make my life any easier."
"Maybe that was Coach Knight's fault and maybe it was partly my fault," he said. "But if I can handle what I've been through, then I know I can handle what lies ahead."
Reed transferred to Southern Mississippi shortly after the incident at Indiana and played there in the 1998-99 season. He told the magazine he "fell out of love" with basketball.
His coach at Southern Miss, James Green, called Reed a "winner" Thursday night. "He did the things that it takes to win ball games," said Green, now the coach at Jacksonville State in Alabama. "He was good to coach. You knew he was going to go out and give his best." Green worked with Reed's father, Terry, at Southern Miss and Iowa State.
After college, he found his way to Los Angeles, CA in 2001, where he met the love of his life, Kelly. They married in 2004 and had two beautiful daughters.
He continued his graduate education at Chapman University and obtained his Master's Degree in Art of Teaching in 2006. Neil was very involved with sports and loved to share his talents and knowledge with others. His students loved him as a leader. He was known as a favorite teacher on campus. On any given day off, Neil could be found on the golf course with some of his buddies.
Neil was known and will be remembered for his great sense of humor, deep love for his family, his loyalty, and as a friend to all.
Neil's favorite quote, and one he lived by, was from legendary Coach John Wooden: "Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
He is survived by his wife Kelly and two daughters; parents, Terry and Patricia Reed; sister Michelle Williams and brother-in-law Zach Williams; three nieces and three nephews; grandmother, Alberta Dawes; in-laws Ken and Jan Fisher and Scott and Rebecca Cramer, and many uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends.
Services will be held at 1:00p.m. on Sunday, July 29, 2012 at Black Lake Golf Course in Nipomo.
Neil will be remembered as a wonderful son and brother, devoted husband, adoring father and faithful friend.
Neil was born in Hot Springs, Ar on November 29,1975.
From the moment he could dribble a basketball, Neil developed a passion for the game. When he graduated from East Jefferson High School in Metairie, LA in 1994 and awarded the honor of MacDonald's All-American, he went on to fulfill a dream and played college ball at Indiana University. He was a Hoosier from 1995-1997 and then transferred to Southern Mississippi as an Academic All-American with a degree in Coaching and Sports Administration.
Neil Reed, the former Indiana basketball player who coach Bob Knight was caught on tape choking in 1997.
Pioneer Valley High School said Reed died Thursday morning of heart complications in Nipomo, Calif.
In March 2000, Reed accused Knight of choking him during a practice in 1997. When video of the practice surfaced backing Reed's claim, the Hall of Fame coach, who was known for his temper as well as his success, was put on a zero-tolerance policy by then-Indiana University President Dr. Myles Brand. That September, Knight, who became head coach at Indiana in 1971 and won three national championships, was fired after a student accused him of grabbing his arm.
"Believe it or not, I'm not happy that Indiana fired Coach Knight," Reed told ESPN The Magazine at the time. "I don't have any feelings about it, mostly because I've had to stand alone for so long. In a way, I've been proven right, but that doesn't make my life any easier."
"Maybe that was Coach Knight's fault and maybe it was partly my fault," he said. "But if I can handle what I've been through, then I know I can handle what lies ahead."
Reed transferred to Southern Mississippi shortly after the incident at Indiana and played there in the 1998-99 season. He told the magazine he "fell out of love" with basketball.
His coach at Southern Miss, James Green, called Reed a "winner" Thursday night. "He did the things that it takes to win ball games," said Green, now the coach at Jacksonville State in Alabama. "He was good to coach. You knew he was going to go out and give his best." Green worked with Reed's father, Terry, at Southern Miss and Iowa State.
After college, he found his way to Los Angeles, CA in 2001, where he met the love of his life, Kelly. They married in 2004 and had two beautiful daughters.
He continued his graduate education at Chapman University and obtained his Master's Degree in Art of Teaching in 2006. Neil was very involved with sports and loved to share his talents and knowledge with others. His students loved him as a leader. He was known as a favorite teacher on campus. On any given day off, Neil could be found on the golf course with some of his buddies.
Neil was known and will be remembered for his great sense of humor, deep love for his family, his loyalty, and as a friend to all.
Neil's favorite quote, and one he lived by, was from legendary Coach John Wooden: "Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
He is survived by his wife Kelly and two daughters; parents, Terry and Patricia Reed; sister Michelle Williams and brother-in-law Zach Williams; three nieces and three nephews; grandmother, Alberta Dawes; in-laws Ken and Jan Fisher and Scott and Rebecca Cramer, and many uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends.
Services will be held at 1:00p.m. on Sunday, July 29, 2012 at Black Lake Golf Course in Nipomo.
Neil Reed, 36, passed away suddenly Thursday morning, July 26, at Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria, CA. He was surrounded by his family and many close friends.
Neil will be remembered as a wonderful son and brother, devoted husband, adoring father and faithful friend.
Neil was born in Hot Springs, Ar on November 29,1975.
From the moment he could dribble a basketball, Neil developed a passion for the game. When he graduated from East Jefferson High School in Metairie, LA in 1994 and awarded the honor of MacDonald's All-American, he went on to fulfill a dream and played college ball at Indiana University. He was a Hoosier from 1995-1997 and then transferred to Southern Mississippi as an Academic All-American with a degree in Coaching and Sports Administration.
Neil Reed, the former Indiana basketball player who coach Bob Knight was caught on tape choking in 1997.
Pioneer Valley High School said Reed died Thursday morning of heart complications in Nipomo, Calif.
In March 2000, Reed accused Knight of choking him during a practice in 1997. When video of the practice surfaced backing Reed's claim, the Hall of Fame coach, who was known for his temper as well as his success, was put on a zero-tolerance policy by then-Indiana University President Dr. Myles Brand. That September, Knight, who became head coach at Indiana in 1971 and won three national championships, was fired after a student accused him of grabbing his arm.
"Believe it or not, I'm not happy that Indiana fired Coach Knight," Reed told ESPN The Magazine at the time. "I don't have any feelings about it, mostly because I've had to stand alone for so long. In a way, I've been proven right, but that doesn't make my life any easier."
"Maybe that was Coach Knight's fault and maybe it was partly my fault," he said. "But if I can handle what I've been through, then I know I can handle what lies ahead."
Reed transferred to Southern Mississippi shortly after the incident at Indiana and played there in the 1998-99 season. He told the magazine he "fell out of love" with basketball.
His coach at Southern Miss, James Green, called Reed a "winner" Thursday night. "He did the things that it takes to win ball games," said Green, now the coach at Jacksonville State in Alabama. "He was good to coach. You knew he was going to go out and give his best." Green worked with Reed's father, Terry, at Southern Miss and Iowa State.
After college, he found his way to Los Angeles, CA in 2001, where he met the love of his life, Kelly. They married in 2004 and had two beautiful daughters.
He continued his graduate education at Chapman University and obtained his Master's Degree in Art of Teaching in 2006. Neil was very involved with sports and loved to share his talents and knowledge with others. His students loved him as a leader. He was known as a favorite teacher on campus. On any given day off, Neil could be found on the golf course with some of his buddies.
Neil was known and will be remembered for his great sense of humor, deep love for his family, his loyalty, and as a friend to all.
Neil's favorite quote, and one he lived by, was from legendary Coach John Wooden: "Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
He is survived by his wife Kelly and two daughters; parents, Terry and Patricia Reed; sister Michelle Williams and brother-in-law Zach Williams; three nieces and three nephews; grandmother, Alberta Dawes; in-laws Ken and Jan Fisher and Scott and Rebecca Cramer, and many uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends.
Services will be held at 1:00p.m. on Sunday, July 29, 2012 at Black Lake Golf Course in Nipomo.
Neil will be remembered as a wonderful son and brother, devoted husband, adoring father and faithful friend.
Neil was born in Hot Springs, Ar on November 29,1975.
From the moment he could dribble a basketball, Neil developed a passion for the game. When he graduated from East Jefferson High School in Metairie, LA in 1994 and awarded the honor of MacDonald's All-American, he went on to fulfill a dream and played college ball at Indiana University. He was a Hoosier from 1995-1997 and then transferred to Southern Mississippi as an Academic All-American with a degree in Coaching and Sports Administration.
Neil Reed, the former Indiana basketball player who coach Bob Knight was caught on tape choking in 1997.
Pioneer Valley High School said Reed died Thursday morning of heart complications in Nipomo, Calif.
In March 2000, Reed accused Knight of choking him during a practice in 1997. When video of the practice surfaced backing Reed's claim, the Hall of Fame coach, who was known for his temper as well as his success, was put on a zero-tolerance policy by then-Indiana University President Dr. Myles Brand. That September, Knight, who became head coach at Indiana in 1971 and won three national championships, was fired after a student accused him of grabbing his arm.
"Believe it or not, I'm not happy that Indiana fired Coach Knight," Reed told ESPN The Magazine at the time. "I don't have any feelings about it, mostly because I've had to stand alone for so long. In a way, I've been proven right, but that doesn't make my life any easier."
"Maybe that was Coach Knight's fault and maybe it was partly my fault," he said. "But if I can handle what I've been through, then I know I can handle what lies ahead."
Reed transferred to Southern Mississippi shortly after the incident at Indiana and played there in the 1998-99 season. He told the magazine he "fell out of love" with basketball.
His coach at Southern Miss, James Green, called Reed a "winner" Thursday night. "He did the things that it takes to win ball games," said Green, now the coach at Jacksonville State in Alabama. "He was good to coach. You knew he was going to go out and give his best." Green worked with Reed's father, Terry, at Southern Miss and Iowa State.
After college, he found his way to Los Angeles, CA in 2001, where he met the love of his life, Kelly. They married in 2004 and had two beautiful daughters.
He continued his graduate education at Chapman University and obtained his Master's Degree in Art of Teaching in 2006. Neil was very involved with sports and loved to share his talents and knowledge with others. His students loved him as a leader. He was known as a favorite teacher on campus. On any given day off, Neil could be found on the golf course with some of his buddies.
Neil was known and will be remembered for his great sense of humor, deep love for his family, his loyalty, and as a friend to all.
Neil's favorite quote, and one he lived by, was from legendary Coach John Wooden: "Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
He is survived by his wife Kelly and two daughters; parents, Terry and Patricia Reed; sister Michelle Williams and brother-in-law Zach Williams; three nieces and three nephews; grandmother, Alberta Dawes; in-laws Ken and Jan Fisher and Scott and Rebecca Cramer, and many uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends.
Services will be held at 1:00p.m. on Sunday, July 29, 2012 at Black Lake Golf Course in Nipomo.
Family Members
Parents
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
See more Reed memorials in:
Advertisement
