"My name is Devin Sickles-Ferrante and I am an alumni of UTTyler. I played softball until I was 17, I started when I was 5 in our town Little League and also did travel ball from 8 years old. In 2009 I was 14 and my family were the host family for UTTyler and Coach Reed. We watched their practices, warm ups, and the games and I learned so much from listening and watching Coach Reed. My travel coach had my whole team come and watch UTTyler practice and play and meet the girls and talk with them to hear what it was like playing at the collegiate level. Our coach also listened to the girls and took many of the rules Coach Reed had and started with our team and myself and our teammates. These rules that our coach used taught us to become better teammates and instilled a bond between us. Many of my travel team teammates did continue playing in college and did very well, I wasn’t as lucky. Having scoliosis and being in a back brace limited my play time my last 2 years of high school but if I was healthy and strong enough I would have asked Coach Reed if I could have a tryout for UTTyler. His enthusiasm and passion for the game as well as his vision to get the team to the next level and to win a national championship. During my time at UTTyler I would go to cheer on the team but I always wished I could have been on that field playing for this amazing program and coach."

"Coach Reed is simply the best! It was a privilege to play for someone who was not only knowledgeable in softball, but also knowledgeable on how to coach and push players to be their very best. I have learned many life lessons from Coach Reed that I have used in my day to day life. He also cares about his players and their well being on and off the field. One day I was hit pretty hard with a ball during practice, and his sweet wife drove me to the hospital to get checked out because they didn’t want me to drive. I could name several examples, year after year, of how he treated players like family. Even after you graduate, you are still treated like family. "

"As a former player who decided to become a coach, I did not always understand or know exactly why we did some of the things that we did or why we had some of the rules and expectations that we had. But now after being in the business for so long I totally “get” every bit of it. Coach Reed was hard on all of us, but it’s because of that I am who I am today. Coach Reed prepared me for the real world and taught me what it meant to fight for the things you are passionate about. Our relationship has grown through the years and Coach Reed is someone that I know I can count on to be there whenever I may need him. Some coaches stop “coaching” when their players graduate, but not Mike Reed. He has been with me all through my career and it has meant the world to me to be able to make him proud of the strong women that I am today. As a coach you cannot and will not make everyone happy, that’s inevitable, but you can make an impact and that is exactly what Mike Reed has done. He is by far one of the best coaches in the nation and has built a prestigious program that I am extremely proud to be an alumni of! Thank you Coach Reed for all of your hard work and dedication to all of your players! "

"He is simply the best coach to play for, his record speaks for itself. As far as being on his team, there’s no better place to grow in resilience, become a leader, become life-long friends with teammates, and learn everything you need to know to be successful not only on the field winning titles but in life. "

"Current Alumni from the 2004-2007 seasons. Coach Reed is easily the best coach in the country. He prepared me on the field for like after the sport and I can honestly say, my successes today directly reflect him and his methodology. Would play for him all over again if given the chance."

"Finding the right coach/school is about finding the right fit so let’s see if playing for Coach Reed is the right fit for you. Playing for Coach Reed was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. He was tough but fair, held players accountable, had reasons for team rules, and taught life lessons. No we couldn’t use our phones on bus trips, but that was because he wanted us to spend time with each other, and by the way those were some of the best memories. Community service was a top priority and probably one of the reasons I have my current job today. Academics came first and we held each other accountable to do our very best in the classroom for ourselves and each other. I believe this year’s softball team was recognized for having the highest GPA of any team at UT Tyler, a testament to that hard work. Playing for Coach Reed goes beyond championships, wins, records, and awards, all of which him and his team earn each year. You are family! And if you’re lucky enough to look back in twenty years and say you were and are a UT Tyler Patriot, you wear that badge proudly. As an alumni, you receive hand written letters each year from current players thanking you for their dedication and laying the foundation for them. You’re invited to alumni games and are greeted each time you show up to support the team at games. You even find yourself following the current year’s team on social media and inevitably watch them compete in championship games at the end of the season. If your willing to buy in to the program, put the team before yourself, trust the process, and trust the coaches and your teammates, then this is the place for you. Playing for Coach Reed is something I’ll always be thankful for. Also, an All American, Female Athlete of the Year, Sportsmanship Award winner, program starter, and proud alumni. "

"Coach Reed is such a great coach! He is a tough coach. He pushes you. He holds you accountable. His record shows his success on and off the field. He has been at the same school since the beginning of the program. He has won a national championship in DIII and DII now! He is one of the only coaches I know that has ever worked with nursing students. Most college coaches tell you to do your nursing school after your done playing. What he does for the alumni is unmatched! Every year girls from all years come back to UT Tyler for an alumni celebration. He continues to do so many things in the community with the team. He has great relationships with campus officials. And personally… he is always a call away. He was a reference on my resume and still is. If I ever needed something coach Reed would do whatever he could to help me… No Doubt!! Coach Reed cares for ALL his players… always has. But he doesn’t play games! That’s a fact! If you are a player that is selfish and unable to die to the team… and unable to be coached and follow a coach that has focus and vision… or a player that needs to be coddled and praised for what is expected and not exceptional… or if your a player who does know how to battle for more of yourself… Tyler may not be for you! But…. If your a player who is willing to fight alongside a coach who has vision… a player who can overcome adversity… a player who will work to better themselves not for just them but for the greater good of the team…. Or if your a parent who will encourage your daughter through the hard and difficult…. Understand they are an adult and will become a stronger person if you can back out of the way and not baby them… Then Tyler is for you! And this is also from an All-American!!! "

"Coach Reed is one of the greatest coaches to have ever coached the game. My time at UT Tyler shaped me into the person I am today. I was in a car accident while at Tyler and being an out of state player I had no one at hospital. Coach Reed was the first to show up at the hospital before any teammate. He has been a great leader and mentor to me. I am forever grateful for my for my time spent at Tyler. I learned so much about the game from him. He pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me become the best player I could be. I can look back on my time at Tyler and be proud! Proud of the winning seasons, proud of the education I received, proud of the relationships I made, proud of the stamp we left on the community, proud to be a Patriot! And it is huge impart to who coach Reed is as a person and a coach! "

"If you want a winning team, this is your team but at what cost? The mental abuse, it is NOT worth it! He doesn’t care about his players and is mentally abusive. This is coming from a mom of an all-American player not someone that didn’t get to play. So I’m not making these comments due to lack of playing time. She played a lot and did a great job, but it was never good enough for him. If you want to continue to love the game, go somewhere else. "

"Very strict and does not care about you as a person or your well-being. He lies on visits and makes it seem like everything is great. Makes it so that you don’t have a life outside of softball and just overall tears you down any way that he can. "

"Very strict but hardworking will really test your passion for the game and is hard on those he knows can succeed. "