Before becoming the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s softball coach in 2001, Frank Reed started the fastpitch program at Chattanooga State and went 476-87 in 11 seasons with the Lady Tigers.
Before that, he had begun a highly successful run as a youth coach, and even while building the Chattanooga State program he continued coaching the Parker Eagles girls’ team that stayed together for nine years and went 458-77 with one Amateur Softball Association national championship, an ASA runner-up finish and seven National Softball Association titles.
That Eagles team got together last Saturday, two days after Thanksgiving, at the UTC indoor practice facility at Warner Park. Players and their families – about 70 people in all – gathered to reminisce and express their thanks for each other, their achievements together and some family members along with their generous sponsor, Jim Parker, who no longer are alive. And they celebrated each other’s accomplishments since they played together as the Eagles 20 years ago.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Dana Reed Mull, Reed’s daughter who has been a sensationally successful coach in her own right, with eight state titles, five GHSA second-place finishes and two thirds in her 15 seasons at Gordon Lee High School.
“It was neat to get to see everybody and see their families – I think we’ve got like 31 kids between like 12 girls,” said Mull, who has two children.