Biographical Note

The longest tenured athletic director in the Gulf South Conference, Herb Reinhard began his 30th year as the leader of the Valdosta State Athletic Department in January 2022.

Under Reinhard’s guidance, the VSU Department of Athletics has grown by leaps and bounds since he joined the school in January of 1992. The growth has been across the board, with the school reaching new levels of success both on the field of play and in the classroom while also featuring increases in both facilities and staff.

The VSU success has been particularly evident on the field of play since Reinhard assumed control of the program. The school has claimed seven of its eight national championships as well as 50 of its 52 Gulf South Conference titles during his 30-plus years as athletic director. Valdosta State’s all-around athletic success has been further evidenced by the three women’s GSC All-Sports Trophies and the eight men’s GSC All-Sports Trophies won by the school under Reinhard, feats never accomplished prior to the start of his leadership of the school’s intercollegiate athletics program.

Reinhard’s ability to lead has also manifested itself in his ability to hire talented coaches and staff. Nine coaches that Reinhard has hired have earned GSC Coach-of-the-Year honors while two, football’s Chris Hatcher and David Dean, have earned national coaching honors.

Reinhard spent much of his early years at VSU turning potential supporters of VSU athletics into active supporters of the program. He has also expanded the VSU sports package, adding women’s volleyball in 1995 and women's soccer in 2010, as well as its athletic facilities.

A fieldhouse and indoor hitting facility for baseball opened in 1998, a $525,000 softball stadium was completed in July 1999 and new seating and a new press box were added at the baseball facility in time for the 2005 season. A new baseball outfield fence was built before the start of the 2006 campaign while a softball fieldhouse was dedicated in March of 2007. Likewise, a new 45,000 square-foot Athletic Fieldhouse, which houses offices, locker rooms and meeting areas for the football program, locker rooms and offices for the soccer program as well as a 7,500 square-foot weight room and a state-of-the-art Athletic Training facility opened during in January 2009.

Reinhard’s leadership has extended beyond Valdosta State as he has also served on numerous NCAA committees. He served on the NCAA South Region football advisory committee during the late 1990’s and early 2000’s before becoming a member of the NCAA Division II Membership Committee, which he later chaired. Reinhard served a six-year term on the NCAA Management Council.

Reinhard joined the Valdosta State athletic family in 1992, coming from Florida A&M University where he was assistant athletic director in charge of marketing and promotions. He began his professional career after earning an undergraduate degree in public relations from Florida A&M, where he was a two-time all-conference placekicker for the Rattlers. He served as the school’s Women’s Sports Information Director from 1979 through 1986 and manned the role of Director of Information Services for the New South Women’s Athletic Conference for the 1985-86 school year as well. Reinhard earned a master’s degree in sports administration from Florida State in 1986. He served FAMU as the school’s Director of Athletic Marketing and Development starting in 1986 and earned a promotion to assistant athletic director for marketing and promotions in 1990. He was honored for his playing days with the Rattlers in 1993 when he was elected to the school’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Reinhard is married and he and his wife, Linda, have a son, Herb IV and a daughter, Rebecca.

Retired: 1992-2024

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