Former Gig Harbor High School head football coach Darrin Reeves was named the replacement for Greg Herd at Auburn Riverside on April 22, according to a social media announcement.

The Oklahoma native is going to be entering his fourth season as a head coach after three seasons as the leader of the Tides.

During his time at Gig Harbor, he was able to see the Ravens’ program from afar. The Tides and Ravens linked up for a jamboree this past season, and he was able to get a peek at how Herd ran his program — and wanted to follow suit.

“We always ended up at jamborees with Riverside and I really liked what Coach Herd was doing. I liked what he was building, how his players responded and played. As soon as Greg was announced at Eastlake, I texted him, ‘Congratulations, how do I get this job?’ I think it’s going to be great a great community and great place,” Reeves said.

His coaching career began after his playing days down in Oklahoma. Reeves played at Southeastern Oklahoma College (Durant, Oklahoma) and had Thomas Ford as his position coach. Reeves built that relationship up and followed Ford to Washington, where he coached at Stadium High School and eventually joined the Tides staff seven years ago as defensive coordinator.

Reeves was a tight ends and receivers coach while being a graduate assistant at Northeastern State University (Tahlequah, Oklahoma) but since moving up to Washington has been a defensive coach.

Not only did the Ravens lose Herd this offseason, but they also lost defensive coordinator Jordan Wenger. That’s not a problem for Reeves, as he will be the defensive play caller while leading Auburn Riverside.

Reeves was a part of a big rivalry while coaching at Gig Harbor whenever Peninsula High School came to town, with tempers flaring and escalating back in 2023 after Gig Harbor quarterback Kai Calhoun was sent to the hospital with a broken jaw. The “Fish Bowl” as it is referred to will play to a similar level as the game for the Fugate Trophy between the Ravens and Auburn High School. Rivalries are what makes the long practice days, and days of intense preparation, worth it.

“That’s what makes the sport. That’s the game you want to play in, because pressure is privilege. I know Aaron (Chantler) does a great job at Auburn. I’m excited to go against his offense. It’s one of the best in the state year in and year out. It’s gonna be fun, that’s what you play for. It’s also a great learning moment for the kids to learn how to control their emotions,” Reeves said.

Last season, there were 15 seniors that played their final game in a Ravens uniform. New transfers outstanding, the Ravens have 13 soon-to-be seniors in Reeves’ first season. He also will have a fresh quarterback and starting linebacker duo as Andrew Wold and Jonathan Epperson were part of those 15 seniors.

“Culture makes or breaks a team, really. I want a culture where everybody is included and everybody is going to have an opportunity. We will film and grade every practice. No matter if you’re a freshman or a senior, if you are winning reps and doing the best, you are going to play,” Reeves said.

Success on the football field at Auburn Riverside has been tough to find. In the school’s 30-year history, there is just one state playoff game of record, back in 2023. Reeves’ goal is to be a force to be reckoned with in the NPSL for years to come.

His coaching philosophy is simple: make the game easier for his team and focus on simplicity for his players. The more kids buy into a common goal that is attainable, the more success on the field they will have. Two words describe his coaching goal: toughness and togetherness.

“I just want to teach these guys how to deal with tough situations and hard stuff that happens in life. I think football is the biggest life lesson that’s out there in high school sports. I want to use this as a platform to build that resiliency and be better humans and win a lot of football games,” Reeves said.

Reeves’ record as the head coach at Gig Harbor was 17-11 over his three season with a high mark of 7-2 in 2023. Auburn Riverside has had just one season with over six wins since the pandemic — in 2021, when they went 7-0.