Wisconsin football hiring Western Michigan assistant as receivers coach
The Wisconsin Badgers are bringing in fast-rising assistant Jordan Reid from Western Michigan to take over as their new wide receivers coach.
The University of Wisconsin football program has officially filled its wide receivers coaching vacancy.
The Badgers have hired Jordan Reid, who spent last season in the same role at Western Michigan under head coach Lance Taylor. Badgernotes was able to confirm the hire with a source.
The move comes as part of head coach Luke Fickell’s continued reshuffling of his staff this offseason. The opening came as a result of Kenny Guiton transitioning from coaching the wide receivers to becoming the quarterbacks coach.
"We're excited to add another young and talented coach to our staff," Luke Fickell said. "Coach Reid will fit right in with our mentality of being humble and hungry and he's definitely a guy who is always eager to learn and grow. He's proven the ability to build strong relationships and will fit right into what we're building as a program."
Reid’s hire marks Wisconsin’s fourth wide receivers coach in as many seasons and the third under Fickell, following Alvis Whitted, Mike Brown, and Guiton.
Reid’s coaching background brings a mix of youthful energy, proven success, and recruiting experience. In his first season at Western Michigan, he oversaw a productive receiving corps that accounted for 167 of the team’s 247 receptions. His work with transfer wideout Kenneth Womack also stood out, as Womack led the MAC in receptions (76), had 691 yards, and earned First Team All-MAC honors.
Graduate transfer Leroy Thomas and Anthony Sambucci also performed under Reid’s tutelage, combining for 707 yards and seven touchdowns.
Before his time at Western Michigan, up-and-coming assistant coach spent two seasons as an offensive quality control coach and analyst at Wake Forest. He also served as an offensive graduate assistant at Ohio, his alma mater, where he played wide receiver from 2013 to 2016, racking up 133 receptions for 1,658 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Reid takes over a wide receiver room that will look much different for Wisconsin in 2025. The Badgers return their top deep threat in Vinny Anthony, who caught 39 passes for 672 yards and four touchdowns last season. Slot receiver Trech Kekahuna, who had 25 catches for 339 yards and two scores, is also back after withdrawing from the transfer portal.
However, Wisconsin will be without three of its top five pass catchers from 2024. Bryson Green graduated, while Will Pauling (Notre Dame) and CJ Williams (Stanford) transferred out. To reload, the Badgers added Ohio State transfer Jayden Ballard, Idaho standout Mark Hamper, and signed four-star freshman Eugene Hilton Jr. in the 2025 recruiting class.
Other returning receivers include Joseph Griffin Jr., Quincy Burroughs, Chris Brooks Jr., Tyrell Henry, and Kyan Berry-Johnson, who will also be in the mix for snaps when spring practice and fall camp roll around.
As Wisconsin football looks to rebuild both its offense under new coordinator Jeff Grimes, Reid’s ability to develop impactful talent in the receiver room will be crucial.
In 2025, the Badgers will feature new faces at offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, wide receivers coach, and safeties coach. This signals a significant and much-needed transformation in both staff and philosophy as Wisconsin heads into Fickell’s third season at the helm.
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