Central Boys Head Basketball Coach, Michael Reed. New lease on life. Knights in the right direction – John Cardullo

by John Cardullo, sportswriter

Growing up in Providence was a typical experience for Michael Reed, as he and his brother, Roland, would hang out with their friends, often playing all sorts of sports – baseball, football and basketball. Basketball was his favorite because no matter what season it was, they could always play some hoops!

They would play throughout the summer on recreation teams, they would head indoors when the weather got too cold, often ending up on a recreation team. When they weren’t playing indoor recreation basketball, they would gather the boys together to pick up teams and play all day and into the late hours of the evening. “When we were playing in the warmer season, coming home when the streetlights came on was more of a suggestion.” Reed said, we would play well into the night. If there was light to help us see, we played.” Playing in Providence’s Bucklin Park, they would play Babe Ruth baseball and recreational basketball. His father, Roland Sr., mother, Shirley, and sister, Regina, would often attend games if he and his brother would be playing.

The Reed boys would play one on one against each other, two on two, three on three, four on four or full five on five. If they were alone, well it was time to practice their dribbling skills or perfecting their shooting skills. For Michael and Roland, there were no days off! Both players were so good, Michael caught the eye of the Classical coaching legend, Dan Pastine. He became a two-time All Stater his junior and senior years and lead the Purple to the 1984 Class A State Championship.

Roland’s road was much different as he went on to play for OLP (Our Lady of Providence) and their own coaching legend, Joseph Hassett, Sr. It didn’t take long for Reed to be recruited by several colleges. It was Bryant College (the school wasn’t a university yet). “I played for Lee Dury and Mike Merlin, who was just laying the foundation for the program that Bryant has in place today”. He realized the importance of the opportunity given to him by being able to play in college and get a college education and degree from Bryant. “When I was finished playing basketball, I didn’t think much about getting into coaching, I wanted to start earning money and start a career.”  He started off being a representative for Reebok from 1988 to 1993, and then running their distribution center before becoming a hotel manager for Foxwoods from 1994 to 2000. “I dipped my toe into the coaching pool at St. Andrews with Mike Hear and worked the mini and summer camps at Bryant. Although I was intrigued by coaching, I wasn’t sure if it was something I wanted to do full time.”

Life takes a turn

Mike Reed gives his thumbs up after undergoing his second kidney transplant

It was in the mid 2000’s that he began to not feel well and was diagnosed with kidney cancer. In 2007 he received his first kidney transplant. The transplant went well and he was released by his doctor to resume his normal day activities, with caution.

It was about that same time that he was asked by Johnson & Wales basketball coach Jamie Benton to come and join his staff and help him build a program. He also took a job with the Providence Recreation department where he was recruited by longtime friend and former teammate, Steve Piscopello, to get involved with the City of Providence’s recreation department.

From 2007-08 to 2017-18, he helped Johnson & Wales University make it to several sweet 16 place finishes as well as a few elite 8 finishes. Then, again, around this time he wasn’t feeling up to par and discovered that his transplanted kidneys were failing.

He also had accepted the head coaching basketball position at Central high school on a interim basis. He made the decision to meet the challenge of coaching Central while undergoing 3 days of dialysis a week.

It was determined that he needed another kidney transplant, a situation that is more common than most people would think. Many patients that receiv a transplant at a younger age go on to need another kidney transplant down the road. So, he spent his days planning out the basketball season while coaching and going through three days a week in dialysis, rising to both challenges. Since he began coaching at Central, the basketball team made the playoffs each of his seven years.

As he was preparing to start another season, he received a call from his doctor, letting him know that a kidney had become available, and he needed to get to the hospital right away. Everything went smoothly and his recovery was better than both he and his doctor had hoped for.

Initially he decided to take the season off and act as a consultant to his longtime assistant coach Corey Conner, watch the games on the schools streaming service and break down the team’s performance. He then changed his plans as his health returned sooner than expected. Still intending to consult, but he will be more proactive as he feels better and his recovery continues to stay on an upward trajectory.

Asked about his future, he said “I have no plans to leave Central in the foreseeable future, but again it totally depends how I feel and how my recovery is progressing. I like the program that we have built here. The players are buying into what we are trying to achieve, the crowds are bigger and better, the PCTA center is a large venue and when it gets noisy here it gets loud! It’s a great atmosphere! I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

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Photos: Deb Weinreich

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John Cardullo, sportswriter. John is a lifelong Rhode Islander. His sports experience is extensive, as a player, coach and sponsor of youth and high school sports. He has been the Public Address Announcer for the CCRI Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams. Both the Cranston East and Cranston West football, Cranston East Boys and Girls basketball for 12 years before moving onto the Central, Juanita Sanchez and Mt. Pleasant football teams. Also, Central HS Boys and Girls Basketball, Scituate High School Boys and Girls Basketball, Johnston High School Girls Basketball, Boys Volleyball, Girls Softball, Boys and Girls Soccer teams, and CLCF football.

John has been involved in Men’s softball for 61 years, starting as a batboy for his father’s team in 1964. He moved to the teams scorekeeper then became a player in 1975, and created the men’s team, Players Corner Pub, that went on to win 20 State Championships in their 35 year history. In the 1990’s he published the statewide softball magazine “The Fielders Choice” which was dedicated to all topics related to adult softball. As a feature writer, John and the publication won several media awards. In 2019 he was elected and inducted into the Rhode Island Slow Pitch Softball Hall of Fame which he also helped create. John is a softball umpire in Warwick, Rhode Island.

In his spare time John golfs with his life long friends in season. After retiring from the printing Industry after a 45-year career, he now writes specialty sports columns for RINewsToday.com, is still actively engaged in the high school sports scene, and will soon launch a radio show/podcast on high school sports.