In southern California stands one of the most recognized Major League ballparks in the country – Dodger Stadium. World Series have been played there; rock icons have performed there; the Pope has edified there. Not far from that historic ball yard a boy was born who was destined to become one of the premier head coaches in the NFL. As a young man, he followed the Los Angeles Rams, especially Merlin Olson and Deacon Jones. A lineman like his role models, he played his prep ball at John Marshall High School in Los Angeles.

Though he had dreams of playing for one of the big colleges in California out of high school, reality took him to nearby Glendale College, a junior college in Glendale, Calif. He excelled while playing for the Vaqueros and, by his sophomore season, was being recruited by nearly every team in the Pac-10. As chance would have it, he blew his knee out in the fourth quarter of the last game of that season. All Pac-10 schools backed off as a result, but a couple of teams from the Western Athletic Conference – namely one in Provo, Utah – were still interested in him. A positive recruiting visit, and a lasting impression made by head coach LaVell Edwards, sold Andy Reid on BYU.

Two-point conversion
Andy didn’t know much about the Church prior to arriving in Provo. By the time he left, however, his knowledge of the Church and gospel had grown considerably. His conversion, which started in Provo, continued in Los Angeles where he received the discussions while home on summer break in 1979.

There were several people that had an influence in Andy’s conversion. “Floyd Johnson, the equipment guy at BYU back then, did a great job with the non-members by introducing them to the Church,” recalled Andy. “I talked with him a lot. I had some great examples from different players at the Y as well. I met my wife Tammy at BYU. She was a great example too.” Ultimately, his future father-in-law baptized Andy into the Church in 1979 and Tammy and he were married on Aug. 8, 1981.

The Reids, who serve as ward missionaries, have five children – sons Garrett, 19; Britt, 17; and Spencer, 10; and daughters Crosby, 14; and Drew Ann, 12. Garrett is preparing to serve a mission, and Britt, who plays linebacker and fullback, is likely to play football at Arizona State in the fall.

Beginnings
Andy was born March 19, 1958, the second of Walter and Elizabeth Reid’s two children. Reginald, Andy’s brother, is ten years his senior.

During his formative years, Andy learned the meaning of hard work. His father was an artist who worked on props and backgrounds for theatrical sets and dropped Andy off at his junior high school early in the morning in order to go to work across the street. Andy busied himself before school with projects in the wood shop. To this day he has a penchant for cabinetry, dabbling in the crafting of cabinets and clocks when time allows.

Flying High
Following his two years of playing at BYU, which included a redshirt season, Andy joined the Cougar coaching staff as a graduate assistant in 1982. From Provo, his coaching path took him to San Francisco State, Northern Arizona, Texas-El Paso, and Missouri where he helped build successful offensive lines at each school. His professional football coaching experience began when the Green Bay Packers hired him as an assistant in 1992. For seven seasons, he worked under the tutelage of Mike Holmgren, who first saw Andy’s coaching talent while he was the quarterback coach at BYU. While in Green Bay, Andy worked with the offensive line, tight ends and quarterbacks.

Andy was hired by the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 11, 1999. Prior to Andy’s hiring, the Eagles struggled to a 3-13 record in 1998 but improved quickly. During Andy’s first four seasons at the helm, he’s led the team to 5-11, 11-5, 11-5 and 12-4 records, including two division titles. In each of the last two seasons, however, the Eagles have been defeated in the NFC Championship game.

In the NFL, losing a conference championship game earns the vanquished team’s coaching staff the dubious honor of coaching their conference’s All-Pro team in the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. “Hawaii does not look like paradise after you’ve lost the NFC Championship game,” said Andy. “I love Hawaii, but it’s just not the same when you’re there because you’ve lost something.”

One thing Andy didn’t lose this past season was the NFL Coach of the Year award. In a landslide victory, he received 35 of 48 votes for the league’s top coaching honor. Though pleased about the award, he is quick to point out that it was not something he could’ve done on his own. “For me to be named Coach of the Year is just a reflection of what my coaching staff and the players have done,” he said.
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His favorite hymn is “Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel” (Hymns, no. 252) and putting his shoulder to the wheel is something that he is not only willing to sing about, but to do. In the dual capacities of Head Coach and Executive Vice President of Football Operations, Andy spends long hours at his office. It is during those long hours that his faith sustains him. “The values and beliefs we live as members of the Church help guide me in my job,” he said. “I try to live those values and beliefs and let them guide me in all that I do.”

In the Cottage, There is Joy
As ward missionaries, the Reids have the interesting assignment of speaking at “cottage meetings.” Much like firesides, the meetings are geared to encourage members to invite non-members to hear a message centered on the theme, “Family, Faith and Football.”

“My wife and I talk about how the Church works into our family life and into my professional life,” said Andy. “It’s an easy thing for the members to participate in. All they do is ask, ‘Hey, you want to come and hear Coach Reid talk?’ We get really good turnouts. A lot of fans love to come to them.”

Trading places
While in Provo, Andy penned a regular article for the Provo Daily Herald. Writing is something he loves to do, as he writes in his journal on a regular basis and, at one time, aspired to be a sports writer for Sports Illustrated.

Wanna switch jobs, Brother Reid? How about for just one paycheck?