April 6, 2010
Brian Reese, a veteran Vanderbilt Athletics administrator whose responsibilities include oversight of the Commodore football program, has been named Director of Athletics at Presbyterian College.
Reese, a native of Michigan who has served in key management roles with Vanderbilt Athletics since 2002, will assume full-time duties at Presbyterian on July 1.
“I am enormously pleased to announce that Brian Reese has agreed to serve as our new director of athletics. His experience at Vanderbilt underscores the importance we place on academics for our student-athletes, and we believe he will be a perfect fit for our community,” Presbyterian President John V. Griffith said.
Presbyterian College, a small liberal arts school located in Clinton, S.C., has 16 varsity sports and is a member of the Big South Conference. They compete in the NCAA Bowl Subdivision for football and Division I for other sports. The college also owns one of the nation’s unique nicknames: the Blue Hose, in reference to a kilt-clad Scotsman warrior.
Reese, 45, said the Vanderbilt experience, where he contributed in an array of administrative roles, will serve him well in the future role.
“I am humbled by the opportunity that Presbyterian College has entrusted in me,” Reese said. “Much like Vanderbilt, Presbyterian places tremendous emphasis on putting academics first for student-athletes. I’m also excited about the challenge as Presbyterian moves into Division I, and I foresee plenty of success in that transition.
“At the same time, I’m so appreciative to Coach (Bobby) Johnson, the staff and student-athletes, the Vanderbilt administration and this university community for the support all have shown me in the last eight years. We have met and made so many friends here. And I’ll always take pride in everything we accomplished together,” Reese added.
For the last six years, Reese as served Vanderbilt Athletics as Director of Sport Operations, overseeing the Commodore football, women’s lacrosse and women’s bowling programs under Vice Chancellor David Williams II.
“I have mixed emotions for sure,” Williams said. “I am very happy and extremely pleased that Brian has earned this tremendous opportunity. He will be extremely successful in this new job.
“At the same time, I am saddened to be losing a person who has been as much a part of the successes we have experienced as any one. I can truly say that there has not been a single role that Brian did not embrace and give it his very best, no matter how grand or mundane. We certainly owe Brian a tremendous debt of gratitude,” Williams added.
Coach Johnson enticed Reese to join him at Vanderbilt as director of football operations after the pair worked together at Furman. As head athletic trainer at Furman at 1995-2002, Reese also accepted several football operations duties while Johnson guided the Paladin football program.
“Obviously, I am extremely happy for Brian. I knew it was just a matter of time before that kind of opportunity became a reality,” Johnson said. “Without doubt, Brian will be missed. He leaves a tremendous impact on this football program and many other facets of Vanderbilt Athletics.
“One of Brian’s greatest assets is getting to know the people around him, and quickly getting involved, whether he’s at work, at church, or helping at his kids’ school. That will continue when Brian starts at Presbyterian.
“I think Brian also will fit in tremendously at Presbyterian, understands the challenge of going Division I, and truly embraces the college’s academic and athletic traditions,” Johnson added.
