|
| Kurt Reiser's final game at Thiel was a win in the Mercer County Cup game vs. Grove City. Thiel athletics photo by Ed Milliand |
Kurt Reiser resigned as head football coach at Thiel, effective at the end of the 2015 season.
A 15-year employee at Thiel, Reiser served as head coach for seven seasons (2009-15). The Tomcats were 15-55 in his tenure.
"I would like to express my appreciation to Kurt for leading our football program the last seven years," said Thiel athletic director and former head football coach Jack Leipheimer. "He is a longtime friend and colleague. Kurt is a quality person with impeccable character and integrity, and I fully support him in his future endeavors."
Reiser mentored All-Region defensive end Tim Taylor during his tenure as head coach. Taylor, Thiel's career leader in sacks (34.5) and tackles for loss (66.5), collected multiple postseason honors. In 2012, he named to the D3football.com All-South Region Third Team. Taylor was also a Capital One Academic All-District First Team pick, as selected by CoSIDA, in 2011.
Working under Leipheimer, Reiser arrived at Thiel in 2001 as the team's offensive line coach, a position he held for six seasons. As offensive line coach, Reiser mentored eight Tomcats to a combined 19 All-PAC selections. Two offensive linemen, Dave Hendricks and Bob Much, were four-time All-PAC selections.
Reiser's offensive line was an integral part of Thiel's 11-win 2005 season, which saw the Tomcats win their first PAC title since 1972 and earn its first undefeated regular season since 1950. All five members of the 2005 offensive line were selected for the All-PAC team, with two players earning first team honors. The 2005 team went on to host and win the program's first NCAA Division III playoff game in school history.
Hendricks turned in one of the best seasons for a Thiel offensive lineman in 2005, earning D3football.com honorable mention All-American honors. He was also invited to participate in the Aztec Bowl.
Reiser's 2005 offensive line allowed only seven sacks in the regular season and blocked for Steve Minton, the school's all-time leading rusher, and Darrell Satterfield and Brandon Chambers, one of the best quarterback-receiver duos in school history.
Reiser served as Thiel's assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in 2007-08. He called plays for some of the most prolific offensive players in program history during the stint, including Minton and another top running back Dan Hess, as well as quarterback Willie Bova. In addition to being Thiel's career leader in rushing yards (2,970), Minton's 216 career points are also the most in program history. Bova is the program's career leader in passing yards (5,682) and completions (505). Hess ranks third in program history in career rushing touchdowns (25) and fourth in rushing yards (2,194).
Reiser earned a master's degree in education from DePaul in 1996 and a bachelor's degree from Allegheny in 1993. Reiser was a starter on the Gators' 1990 national championship team and caught the game-winning touchdown pass in overtime in the national championship game, lifting Allegheny to a 21-14 victory over Lycoming.