Gonzaga mourns the loss of athletic director Joe Reyda

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Gonzaga College High School, one of the nation’s premier private school athletic programs, is mourning the loss of athletic director Joe Reyda, who died suddenly last Wednesday from an apparent heart attack.

A 1985 graduate of Gonzaga, Reyda was just 55 years old at his passing and served as a faculty member, coach and athletic administrator with the Purple Eagles for more than 30 years. His love and passion for the school were obvious to all who encountered him.

“I love this place. I’ve met so many great people through this community over the years… students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents,” said Reyda during his induction speech into the Gonzaga Hall of Fame in 2016. “Every corner I turn on this campus has a memory that comes to mind.”

In addition to the countless games he oversaw, the victories and numerous championships, he was married at St. Aloysius Church on the school's campus. His daughters were baptized there. And, on Saturday, his funeral was celebrated there.

Reyda’s love affair with Gonzaga began as an athlete at the school where he played football and was a member of the golf team. After graduating in 1985, he returned in 1989 as an assistant football coach while still pursuing his degree from nearby Catholic University. He was eventually hired onto the faculty as assistant dean of students, assistant athletic director and director of special events. In 2001 he was appointed the school’s athletic director, a post he held until his passing.

Over the next 22 years, Gonzaga’s athletic teams won over 100 league titles in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC), perhaps the premier private athletic conference in the nation, and became a consistent national power in many sports, including football and basketball. He also served the WCAC in many roles including managing and running the league’s boys and girls post-season basketball tournaments.

His 18 years as a member of the school’s football staff included three seasons as head coach. He was also the head golf coach for nine years.

Casey O’Neill, a 1996 graduate of Gonzaga was Reyda’s assistant athletic director and long-time friend, as well as the school’s lacrosse coach.

“He had this discipline about him,” said O’Neill to the Washington Post. “There was a sternness, but you never felt like he was against you. Instead, you wanted to work really hard for him because you knew he believed in you.”

O’Neill also stressed Reyda’s belief in being involved with and supporting all sports, not just high-profile ones such as football and basketball.

“He showed up,” O’Neill added for the Post. “He was just there for everyone. Whether it was the athletic trainer having an issue, a freshman soccer coach, a Division I college recruiter. There was so much going on, and you always knew Joe would be there and he would handle it. That’s a man for others.”

Reyda is survived by his wife, Tricia, and two daughters, Molly and Caroline.

“He gave everything to Gonzaga, but when he was here at work he would just talk about his family and how much love he had for them,” said Scott Waller, Gonzaga’s soccer coach since 2005. “His family was his life. We all knew how they were doing all the time.”