Don Read

For the Canadian psychologist, see J. Don Read. For other people, see Donald Reid (disambiguation).

Donald Bert Read (December 15, 1933 – January 3, 2024) was an American college football coach and athletics administrator. He was the head coach at Portland State University (1968–1971, 1981–1985), the University of Oregon (1974–1976),^[1] the Oregon Institute of Technology (1977–1980), and the University of Montana (1986–1995), compiling a career college football record of 155–126–1 (.551).

Don Read

Biographical details
Born	(1933-12-15)December 15, 1933 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died	January 3, 2024(2024-01-03) (aged 90)
Playing career
late 1950s	Sacramento State
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1960s	Placer HS (CA) (assistant)
1960s	Petaluma HS (CA)
1966–1967	Humboldt State (assistant)
1968–1971	Portland State
1972–1973	Oregon (QB/Rec)
1974–1976	Oregon
1977–1980	Oregon Tech
1981–1985	Portland State
1986–1995	Montana
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
2004–2005	Montana
Head coaching record
Overall	155–126–1 (college) 19–5–2 (high school)
Tournaments	8–4 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 NCAA Division I-AA (1995) 1 Evergreen (1980) 1 Western Football (1984) 2 Big Sky (1993, 1995)
Awards
AFCA Division I-AA COY (1995)

From 1968 to 1971 and 1981 to 1985, Read led the Portland State Vikings to a 39–52–1 record. From 1974 to 1976, he guided the Oregon Ducks to a 9–24 record (3–18 in Pac-8);^[2][3][4] the two previous seasons he mentored quarterbacks and receivers under head coach Dick Enright.^[5]

Read's best success came at Montana, where he went 85–36 (.702), including three 11-win seasons and an NCAA Division I-AA Championship in his final year of coaching, 1995.^[6][7] Read resided in Corvallis, Oregon, where he participated in scouting and game planning for Oregon State football.

Read died on January 3, 2024, at the age of 90.^[8]

Education

In 1962, Read earned his master's degree in social science from Sacramento State University.^[8]

Head coaching record

College

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Portland State Vikings (NCAA College Division independent) (1968–1971)
1968	Portland State	4–6
1969	Portland State	6–4
1970	Portland State	6–4
1971	Portland State	4–5
Portland State:		20–19
Oregon Ducks (Pacific-8 Conference) (1974–1976)
1974	Oregon	2–9	0–7	8th
1975	Oregon	3–8	2–5	6th
1976	Oregon	4–7	1–6	T–7th
Oregon:		9–24	3–18
Oregon Tech Hustlin' Owls (Evergreen Conference) (1977–1980)
1977	Oregon Tech	2–7	1–5	T–6th
1978	Oregon Tech	5–4[n 1]	3–3[n 1]	T–3rd[n 1]
1979	Oregon Tech	7–2	3–2	T–2nd
1980	Oregon Tech	7–2	4–1	T–1st
Oregon Tech:		22–14	11–11
Portland State Vikings (NCAA Division II Independent) (1981)
1981	Portland State	2–9
Portland State Vikings (Western Football Conference) (1982–1985)
1982	Portland State	2–9	0–4	5th
1983	Portland State	3–7	1–2	T–3rd
1984	Portland State	8–3	3–0	1st
1985	Portland State	4–5–1	2–2–1	3rd
Portland State:		19–33–1	6–8–1
Montana Grizzlies (Big Sky Conference) (1986–1995)
1986	Montana	6–4	4–4	4th
1987	Montana	6–5	5–3	3rd
1988	Montana	8–4	6–2	2nd	L NCAA Division I-AA First Round
1989	Montana	11–3	7–1	2nd	L NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal
1990	Montana	7–4	4–4	4th
1991	Montana	7–4	6–2	T–2nd
1992	Montana	6–5	4–3	T–3rd
1993	Montana	10–2	7–0	1st	L NCAA Division I-AA First Round
1994	Montana	11–3	5–2	T–2nd	L NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal
1995	Montana	13–2	6–1	1st	W NCAA Division I-AA Championship
Montana:		85–36	54–22
Total:		155–126–1
National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

See also

• 1995 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game

Notes

1. Oregon Tech finished the 1978 with an overall record of 4–5 and a mark of 2–4 in conference play, tying for fifth place in the Evergreen Conference.^[9] In January 1979, Central Washington forfeited its three wins, including its victory over Oregon Tech, from 1978 because of ineligible player.^[10]