Former Gamecocks Assistant David Reeves Hired by New Mexico

Carolina fans remember David Reeves, the guy who shunned USC for Knoxville to go coach with his brother-in-law then got left in the dust as Lane Kiffin vacated Knoxville. Well, Mr. Reeves has found a job….with New Mexico.

Not sure about this career path from coaching under a legend in Steve Spurrier, to giving USC the finger for a job at Tennessee then getting surprised like most by the move of Lane and ending up with the Lobo football program. Hmmm…well at least he gets a new title so I guess that is something, right? He will be the QB Coach and passing game coordinator.

Here is the full release from New Mexico –

New Mexico head football coach Mike Locksley announced today the hiring of David Reaves as the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. Reaves joins the Lobo football program and adds experience to an already impressive staff.

“David Reaves is a great addition to our staff and has some of the top pedigree in college football,” said Locksley. “He brings a wealth of knowledge to our program and has been worked for two outstanding coaches in Lou Holz and Steve Spurrier. David has a national reputation as a top recruiter and can develop quarterbacks.”

Reaves comes to New Mexico after spending the 2009 season at Tennessee. While in Knoxville, Reaves led a passing game that accounted for 2,942 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Prior to his stint at Tennessee, he spent most of this decade at South Carolina, where he served under head coaching legends Holtz and Spurrier.

Reaves coached seven seasons for the Gamecocks, including the first two as a graduate assistant. After one year as defensive backs coach under Holtz and two seasons assisting Spurrier in coaching the Gamecock quarterbacks, Reaves was handed the full-time quarterback coaching duties in the spring of 2007.

In addition, Reaves was given the duties beginning in 2006 of recruiting coordinator. He solidified his reputation as one of the top young recruiters in college football when the 2007 Gamecock signees formed a consensus top-10 class and were regarded as the most highly touted recruiting class in school history. Following the February signing day, Reaves was selected as one of the top 25 recruiters in the country by Rivals.com.

In 2007, the Gamecocks threw for more than 3,000 yards and averaged 258.2 yards per game through the air with senior Blake Mitchell and redshirt freshman Chris Smelley sharing time under center. In 2006, the South Carolina quarterbacks, primarily Blake Mitchell and Syvelle Newton, combined to throw for 3,259 yards, an average of 250.7 yards per game. In 2005, Reaves assisted with the development of quarterback Blake Mitchell, who threw for 2,370 yards, the seventh-highest single season total in school history.

Reaves spent his first full-time collegiate coaching season of 2004 working with the Carolina safeties.

I would say I wish him luck but truth be known I would be lying as I am still a little put off by the way he left South Carolina.

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