A longtime Bellefontaine assistant football coach has earned a prestigious honor.

Rick Reed was recently named the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Region 9 Assistant Coach of the Year.

The region includes Logan, Champaign, Shelby, Hardin, Auglaize, Allen, Darke, Miami, Mercer, and Van Wert counties.

Reed has been an assistant coach at BHS for 17 years.

He’s been the offensive line coach the last 11 years.

Players respect his honesty and knowledge of the game.

Reed was instrumental in the Chiefs’ historic run last fall.

In Week 6, Bellefontaine fell to state-ranked London 36-6. The Chiefs were held to 34 yards rushing in the loss. Reed was then asked to take an increased role in the BHS offense and coordinated the run game for the rest of the season.

Bellefontaine responded with 7 consecutive wins, including a 35-28 victory over the Red Raiders in a playoff rematch. The Chiefs rushed for 215 yards that night.

The ’23 Chiefs were the first team in school history to win three playoff games in the same season. Bellefontaine advanced to the Division III regional final in November.