Bill Reiss has been a member of the Lackawanna College football staff since the Spring of 2009, and is entering his 17th year on staff going into the 2025 campaign.
Prior to his arrival at Lackawanna, Bill was the Defensive Line, Strength & Conditioning Coordinator and Head Equipment Manager at Hargrave Military Academy. He started his career at Lackawanna as Linebackers and Special Teams Coordinator, before becoming the Defensive Coordinator in 2014, where he has led the Lackawanna defense even since.
In his time in charge, Reiss's defenses have been led by aggressive playmakers and ballhawks. In his first season in charge of the defense, the Falcons ranked sixth in the country in points per game allowed (16.3), fourth in yards per game (225.1), and second in passing yards per game (111.4), while posting an honorable mention All-American.
In 2015, the Falcons were ninth in the country in points per game (17.4) and yards per game (273.1), while finishing tenth in the country in passing yards per game (160). Linebacker Kapri Doucet was a first-team All-American, the only selection for the defense in 2015.
2016 saw Reiss and the Falcons give up an average of 19.7 points per game, but that includes the 48-42 loss in overtime to Mesa CC in the Valley of the Sun Bowl at the end of the season. The defense was otherwise phenomenal, leading the country in sacks (71) and posting 36 takeaways, including 21 fumble recoveries and 15 interceptions. They were also second in the country against the rush, giving up just 34.3 yards per game. Linebacker Shane Schuback was a second-team All-American selection.
After a 2017 where the Falcons hovered just outside of the top ten in multiple categories, 2018 saw the Falcons take a giant leap forward, leading the country in interceptions (23), while also finishing top five in points per game (12.1), rushing yards per game (78.1), and passing yards per game (117.3). Reiss and the Falcons capped their only unbeaten and untied season in school history with a 17-10 win against Arizona Western in the El Toro Bowl, and defensive back Jaquan Brisker was a first-team All-American.
In 2019, the Falcons were arguably even better on defense, leading the nation in defensive touchdowns (9) and interceptions (29). Under Reiss, the Falcons were top five in points per game (12.4), yards per game (218.4), passing yards per game (141.3), and rushing yards per game (77.1), and they were second in the nation in sacks (55). Lackawanna went 10-1, falling in the NJCAA National Championship game to Mississippi Gulf Coast, 24-13. The Falcons had four defensive All-Americans, including first-team selection Ji'Ayir Brown at DB.
While the numbers have dipped slightly over the last four seasons, the Falcons still consistently rank amongst the best in the nation in several categories, year in and year out, with Reiss in charge. The Falcons surrendered just 17.7 points per game in 2022 on their way to the Wool Bowl, finishing second in the country against the rush with 59.5 rushing yards allowed per game. The Falcons were tied for second in the country in defensive touchdowns (5) and fifth in the country in sacks (43). In 2024, linebacker Andrew Marshall earned an Honorable Mention All-American nod, the first for a defensive player since 2019.
During his career, Reiss has helped multiple student-athletes sign Division I scholarships and has coached multiple NFL players, most recently coaching Kyzir White (Arizona Cardinals), Jaquan Brisker (Chicago Bears), and Ji'Ayir Brown (San Francisco 49ers).
Bill is a Lackawanna College alumnus, where he received an Associate’s Degree in Sports Management. Reiss has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management and a master’s degree in Coaching from Greenville University.
He currently resides in Scranton, PA with his wife Cat and daughters Raeleigh and Elliotte. Reiss is a native of Wilkes-Barre, PA and attended E.L. Meyers HS.
