David Reeves begins his fourth season as the safeties coach and special teams coordinator. He joined the staff after five seasons as the head coach at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont., and has 16 years of experience overall in the FCS and FBS levels.

Reeves coached junior Matt Estrada to a breakout season in 2009 in his initial season. Estrada was named the most valuable defensive player, defensive backfield player of the year and outstanding junior after leading the team with 78 tackles and a team-best 47 solo tackles. He culminated his junior season with All-Big Sky first-team honors.

Estrada also anchored one of the best defensive units in school history in 2010, signing as a free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars in July 2011. The Lumberjacks led the league in scoring defense (19.8), rushing defense (93.5) and sacks (33), while ranking second overall in total defense (306.6) and pass defense (213.1). NAU was fifth nationally in rush defense and among the FCS Top 25 in sacks (10th), total defense (14th) and pass defense (22nd).

Estrada, who made the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad as an undrafted free agent, earned All-Big Sky second team honors in 2010, bringing home Big Sky Player of the Week honors on both defense and special teams. He is currently playing in the CFL.

Reeves has helped produced some of the nation’s top special teams units during his time at NAU. The Lumberjacks ranked Top 16 in the country in both punting and field goals in 2010 behind the play punter Drew Zamora and kicker Matt Myers. Zamora ranked third in the Big Sky and 19^th nationally in 2011, while the kick return led the league and ranked sixth overall in the FCS at 24.3 yards per return. Taylor Malenfant was among the top punt returners in the country.

During Reeves’ tenure with the Rocky Mountain Bears he tutored a defense that steadily improved each season and produced numerous all-conference players each season. He compiled a 12-43 record at the school, including 4-7 marks the last two seasons.

RMC defeated Montana Tech for the first time since 1999 - ending a 16-game losing streak to the Orediggers - and wrapped up the season with back-to-back victories over Eastern Oregon and Montana Western. The Bears ranked No. 2 in the NAIA in passing offense (323.0 per game), No. 4 in sacks per game (3.5) and No. 9 in field goals made (.769).

Prior to arriving at Rocky, Reeves spent 15 years coaching at the Division I level. He started his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of Montana, after he finished his playing career in 1987 under then defensive coordinator Jerome Souers. As the linebacker coach for the Griz, Reeves coached 10 All-Big Sky first-team performers, including 1996 Big Sky Defensive MVP Jason Crebo. He was also a member of the Grizzly coaching staff that guided the 1995 team to the 1-AA National Championship.

In 2000, Reeves followed Mick Dennehy from Montana to Utah State University, where he became the assistant head coach and linebacker coach for the Aggies. While at USU, Reeves’ linebackers earned All-Big West first-team honors three times. Two of his linebackers, Jesse Busta and Brent Passey, ended their careers as the schools’ third and fourth all-time leading tacklers.

As a player at Montana, Reeves was a four-year letter winner and was two-year starter as a strong safety. He earned the team’s Most Inspirational award as a senior in 1987. In 1991, Reeves earned a BA in history from Montana.

Reeves is married to the former Sara Mates and they have two children, Matt and Sam.

David Reeves, Safeties/Special Teams

Born: Feb. 14, 1966

College: University of Montana

Playing Experience: University of Montana, 1984-87.

Family: Wife, Sara, and two boys, Matt and Sam.              

Recruiting Areas: Western States Football League JC (AZ,UT,NM) / Northern California JC (CA)

Reeves’ Coaching Chronology