Class of 1963 physical education major scores rewarding coaching career

Going into Wooster with the hope of coaching professionally, Reggie Minton ’63 dove into the physical education program and took away life experiences that aided his future success. Growing up in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Minton hoped to find a life away from the violence he grew up witnessing. “I saw a person killed and watched him bleed to death. I grew up in a situation where it wasn’t long before I knew that I did not want to stay,” said Minton. “Getting a chance to go to a place like Wooster, even though it was different, was good.” A recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2025, Minton’s experience at Wooster opened the door to coaching opportunities that shaped his professional career.

As a physical education major at the College, Minton immersed himself in athletics opportunities. He played basketball and coached a sorority flag football team before entering the United States Air Force upon graduation. Serving in the Air Force from 1969-1983, Minton became an assistant basketball coach with Hank Egan for the Air Force Academy’s men’s basketball team, the Falcons. In 1983, Minton started his first head coaching job for Dartmouth College’s men’s basketball team before going back to the Air Force in 1985 as the head coach for the Falcons. “Wooster being on my resume immediately got people’s attention, particularly at an academic school like Dartmouth,” shared Minton. “Wooster opened horizons that I hadn’t seen before.”

In 2000, Minton joined the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) on a tenure track, working alongside other basketball coaches with the goal of making the sport more inclusive, ethical, and community-based. He served as the deputy executive director starting in 2004 until his retirement in 2020. While working with the NABC, Minton developed a relationship with Coaches vs. Cancer, a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the NABC that aimed to raise funds for cancer research. “We’ve raised more than $200 million for this cause,” said Minton. “I got some awards from the cause that I don’t think I’m all that deserving of. I just did the right thing.”

Looking back on his time at Wooster, Minton emphasizes how impactful the College was to his future career. “Wooster helped me learn how to communicate with everyone and come to grips with some things that I hadn’t ever dealt with growing up,” he said. “I enjoy telling people I went to Wooster. I feel blessed.”

Featured image: Reggie Minton ’63 and President McCall pose for photos with the Distinguished Alumni Award at the ceremony during Alumni Weekend.

This story originally appeared in the fall 2025 Annual Report.

Posted in Alumni, Magazine on November 17, 2025.