Corban University Announces Twiggs Reed as New Athletic Director

6/18/2018 2:25:00 PM

Danny Day, Assistant Athletic Director - External Operations

SALEM, Ore. – Corban University announced on Monday afternoon that Steve "Twiggs" Reed has been hired as the new Athletic Director for Warrior Athletics. He and his wife Michelle make the move back to the Pacific Northwest after more than 30 years of experience at varying levels of leadership around the country.

"I don't know when we've hired anyone at Corban that has generated the enthusiasm and optimism as we see from our announcement of Twiggs and Michelle joining the Corban University team," said Corban University President Sheldon Nord. "His leadership will fit right in with our existing team, and his heart for the next generation of church and community leaders is inspiring. I look forward to working with them and ask for everyone's prayers as they sell their home and make the transition to the Pacific Northwest."

While spending the last three years as Athletic Director at Central Christian College (Kan.), an NAIA institution in the Sooner Athletic Conference, Reed spent the 30 years prior to that as a Director for Young Life up and down the West Coast and in Indonesia.

"It is with a sense of humility and excitement that I look forward to being the Director of Athletics at Corban University," said Reed. "I would like to thank President Sheldon Nord, for giving me this great honor as well as to thank the search committee, who under the leadership of VP for Student Life Brenda Roth, made the entire interview process Christ-centered and professional."

Native to the Pacific Northwest where he grew up and started his career, Reed graduated from Seattle Pacific University. While at Central Christian these past three years, Reed started four new athletic programs and re-introduced two others that are set to begin during the 2018-19 academic year. When he started, there were 185 student-athletes, while now the school has more than 300. Integral in the vision and entire process of building a new track & field athletic complex, Reed led the campaign for raising money to help make the facility a reality. On top of those things, he also was a key contributor as a member of the Central Christian College President's Cabinet.

"Corban University's mission of educating students who will make a difference in the world for Jesus Christ is what attracted me to this excellent University," said Reed. "I look forward to serving alongside coaches, faculty, and staff to continue to build on Corban's winning tradition in the classroom and in athletics, as well as developing men and women of character who will make an eternal impact in our world for Christ. My wife, Michelle, and I look forward to joining the Corban University family. Go Warriors!"

Prior to serving as the Athletic Director at Central Christian, Reed was the Director of Young Life in varying regions up and down the West Coast and in Indonesia. Originally beginning with Young Life in Washington, he moved to California in 2000 and was in charge of raising funds of more than $1.5 million per year to cover their budgets. He then spent four years as the Regional Trainer and Developer for Young Life in the Asia-Pacific Division, starting a Young Life Team in Jakarta and Bintan, Indonesia.

On top of all of this experience, Reed was a cross country and track & field athlete in both high school and college, competing at Seattle Pacific University. Following that, he coached cross country and track & field for 20+ years during his time at Young Life, seeing three of his distance athletes compete at the Olympic Trials.

Reed will officially begin at Corban sometime in the early fall.