HawkeyeReport: Iowa assistant Jim Reid on the move

For the fourth time in seven years, Iowa is in the market for a linebackers coach.

HawkeyeReport.com is reporting that Iowa linebackers coach Jim Reid will accept the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach position at Boston College on Wednesday. It's a homecoming of sorts for Reid, 65, a native of Medford, Mass.

Reid just finished his third year at Iowa, giving the position group some stability after a stretch of four different linebackers coaches from 2010 to 2013, when Reid and LeVar Woods (who was named tight ends coach this year) were named by FootballScoop as national linebackers coaches of the year.

Iowa linebacker will be in good shape next season, with junior middle linebacker Josey Jewell and junior outside linebacker Ben Niemann.

Time will tell if Reid is the only Iowa assistant coach on the move. The topic was raised with head coach Kirk Ferentz, who now begins his 18th season at Iowa, after the Big Ten title game on Dec. 6.

'I'm not aware of any right now, but you never know,' Ferentz said. 'That's part of the life we live. So, if somebody decides there's something better out there for them, I've always operated under the philosophy that I don't want to try to make judgments for other people, what's best for their lives. So, if something would come along that's exciting for them or attractive, I'll support them on that.

'The good thing about coaching here is I think we can always get great people to come here and work. And the last couple guys that we have had have been great additions, so I really feel great about our staff right now. When you have good people you're always at risk, too.'

The question came up with defensive coordinator Phil Parker during Rose Bowl week.

'I've been at Toledo, I was there for 11 years (as secondary coach), and I've been here for 17 years,' Parker said. 'I'm not a big believer in jumping around job to job. A lot of guys take jobs for different reasons.

'I love coaching. University of Iowa is a beautiful place, and it's been great for my kids that grew up there. So, I've been very lucky and fortunate. I see a lot of guys out there that might have so-called better jobs, but I work for a great, great coach. Coach Ferentz is excellent to work for, and I'm just happy to be part of the program and develop young kids.'

Reid wasn't a huge volume recruiter for the Hawkeyes, but he is the lead recruiter for Indiana running back Toks Akinribade, a 6-0, 210-pounder who was timed at 4.36 in the 40-yard dash by Rivals.com last winter. According to HawkeyeReport, Akinribade has scheduled a visit with home state Indiana.

Reid came to Iowa after three seasons as associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Virginia. A job at Boston College would offer him a chance to move closer to home and another run at a coordinator job.

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