About
USBC Silver Coach Tom Reid started bowling at age 15, when his church merged with another and formed a league to help integrate the two congregations. He quickly realized that bowling is a great vehicle for bringing people together, that improvement on the lanes greatly aids anyone’s self-esteem, and that a bowler is much more likely to develop sound technique if they receive effective guidance. Over the course of a semi-pro bowling career during the 1980’s and 42 years coaching and teaching at Oberlin College and Notre Dame College, Tom had even more realizations: that one of the primary purposes of sport is to develop skills such as patience and persistence that are useful in other areas of life, that psychological skills employed by athletes are useful for all types of performers, and that an attitude of service to others helps make the world a better place for everyone. On campus, Tom was credited with fostering a culture of joy, inclusivity and mental well-being. Many students have said that his lessons not only helped them improve their bowling game, but also helped them better navigate the game of life. Now retired from his college team coaching career, Tom is excited to share his insights beyond campus with groups and individuals.
Testimonials
“I’ve watched Tom coach a seasoned PBA champion preparing for a tournament and give an impromptu 30-minute lesson to a first time bowler whose only desire was to beat their friend in a match. Tom treated both with a level of care, respect, and patience that I have yet to see paralleled in the coaching world. His love of the sport is evident in every action he takes, and enough simply cannot be said about his ability to impart some of that love (and, in truth, stupendous bowling advice) to every bowler he interacts with. Tom often says that ‘there are a lot of life lessons that will improve your bowling, and a lot of bowling lessons that will improve your life.’ A lesson with Tom is most certainly the latter.”
“Tom’s love for bowling is contagious. What was originally a 1 credit course became a sport I loved, a job I valued, and a source of enjoyment for years to come. He’s able to present the big picture and help you find your own unique path to bowling success.”
“Tom is a brilliant coach. He is very talented at individualized instruction - he guides the bowler to what will work best for them rather than making them match his preferred technique. He takes the time and energy to make sure you understand the reasons behind everything, which makes it much easier to make adjustments on the fly (and ignore bad advice from other bowlers). He also coaches the mental aspect of the sport and can give you the tools to remain calm and focused in stressful situations on and off the lanes. He really knows his stuff!”
