What would you do for the opportunity to get a better job? Not just any job, but a job that you agreed to perform for free. For Colorado special teams coordinator Trevor Reilly, the answer is whatever it takes.
This story isn’t about the moment he joined Deion Sanders at Colorado, that was uneventful relatively speaking. Reilly comes to Colorado after joining Sanders at Jackson State in 2021 and that was an absolute adventure.
Reilly had finished his professional playing career and was coaching at Utah. But he needed more responsibilities so he could beef up his coaching resume. So he called up Dennis Thurman, Jackson State’s defensive coordinator at the time, telling him he’d come and coach for free if he could get some extra responsibilities.
Coach Prime was made aware of Reilly’s intentions but didn’t take him up on the offer immediately. A few weeks passed and Sanders had Thurman reach out to Reilly and test his offer.
Trevor Reilly could have easily given up
Reilly was on an airplane the following day and caught a flight to Atlanta, because there were no direct flights to Jackson. He landed in the middle of the infamous ice storm of 2021 that brought Mississippi to its knees. There were no flights available from Atlanta to Jackson, and wouldn’t be for the next two days at least. Renting a car to make the drive was almost as tricky, it was going to cost him upwards of $1500. There was no signing bonus awaiting him in Jackson. Remember, there was not even a check promised.
At this point the average person is probably going to convince themselves they tried their best and head back home. Trevor Reilly is not your average guy. He began searching for a car to buy so he could make the trip. Jackson State was just days away from its game against Edward Waters, the first ever of the Coach Prime era. He had to be there.
How he made it to Jackson in time for the first game is an incredible story. His thoughts on coaching at an HBCU is a well thought out perspective that he shares with all young coaches.
Reilly’s sit down interview with Uncle Neely explores his grand arrival to Jackson and his perspective on coaching at an HBCU. Watch the above video to get a better understanding of Colorado’s newest special teams coordinator.
