Sayville, NY – In a surprising turn of events, Reade Sands has announced his resignation as the head coach of the Sayville football program. Sands, who is 49 years old, expressed that the decision was tough but necessary as he wants to focus on spending more time with his family.
During his eight years as head coach, Sands transformed Sayville into one of Long Island’s most successful football programs. Under his leadership, the Golden Flashes won the Suffolk Division III title in 2024 and finished with an impressive record of 11-1. The only blemish on their season was a narrow loss to four-time defending champion Garden City in the Long Island Class III championship game, with a final score of 31-28.
Sands, reflecting on his career, stated, “I want to have the freedom to spend quality time with my family, and that’s just not possible when you pour your life’s work into coaching.” With four sons of his own, he noted that after coaching them through youth leagues and high school, he is excited to finally see two of them compete in college football this fall.
Over his coaching career, Sands led the team to eight consecutive playoff appearances, four Suffolk Division III championships, and even won three Rutgers Trophies in 2020, 2022, and 2024. His overall record stands at an impressive 74-11, highlighted by a remarkable 22-game winning streak across two seasons.
Ryan Cox, the director of athletics for the Sayville School District, commented, “The Sayville athletic department will miss Coach Sands’ unwavering commitment to the student-athletes in our football program.”
Known for his dedication, Sands began coaching in 1997 and has contributed significantly to the Sayville team since joining as a defensive coordinator in 2006. Speaking about his coaching career, he said, “It’s been quite a run. And it might be a short hiatus from coaching. I might come back.”
As he embarks on this new chapter, Sands will have one last opportunity to coach. He is set to serve as a defensive coach for the Long Island senior all-stars in the upcoming National Football Foundation’s All-Star Classic on June 21 at Hofstra.
As Sands turns his focus to family, he admits it will take some getting used to not being on the sidelines. “I just hope the family keeps me so busy that I don’t think about it,” he added humorously, mentioning how he’s never experienced the luxury of having free time to relax and read a book.
