Former Gig Harbor football coach Darrin Reeves resurfaces at Auburn Riverside
Former Gig Harbor High School football coach Darrin Reeves has resurfaced quickly in the offseason after resigning from his post with the Tides. He was named the new head football coach at Auburn Riverside this week, replacing Greg Herd, who left for the Eastlake job.
“I’m super excited,” Reeves told The News Tribune. “Fired up to get going with those guys, work with the kids.”
Reeves said he texted Herd after he left for the Eastlake job — half-congratulatory, half ‘how do I get your job?’
“I really respected what he did and what they did as a program,” Reeves said. “Really respected how hard they played. It’s a good fit for my family, get to jump in and be part of that community.”
Reeves posted a 4-6 record in his final season in 2024 with Gig Harbor. At times, the Tides felt close under Reeves, but the breakthrough season never came to fruition.
“When you get to year three, you think you have everything set,” he said. “Making sure you’re not taking stuff for granted — that was the biggest thing for me. You’re not always gonna get the bounces.”
He’ll have a chance to reset at Auburn Riverside, which Herd helped establish as a regular contender in the North Puget Sound League. Auburn Riverside jumped from 3A to 4A for the 2024-25 school year. While Kennedy Catholic hasn’t lost a league game in years and is the annual favorite, Reeves will have the chance to make a playoff bid in year one at Auburn Riverside.
“My vision is to come in and build a culture that everyone will know who we are,” Reeves said. “Representing Auburn Riverside to the best of our ability, being someone people can look up to, on the field and how they handle themselves off the field. Being a hard-nosed team, believing in one another.”
