ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk announced Wednesday that Captain Carter Reading, USMC has been appointed head coach of the Navy sprint football program. Reading becomes the 33rd head coach in the program's history and takes over for Major Alfonso Meidus, USMC, who put together a 23-1 (.958) record over his three years as head coach.
"I'm thrilled to be back at the United States Naval Academy with my family," Reading said. "It's a special opportunity for me to give back to the team and institution that's meant so much to me. Leading these players is an honor. We're ready to uphold the sprint football legacy and beat Army!"
A 2016 graduate of the Naval Academy, Reading was a member of the Navy sprint football team from 2012 to 2015 and served as a coaching TAD (Temporary Assignment Duty) for the 2016 season. During his tenure, he helped lead the Midshipmen to a 30-5 overall record, including a 24-4 mark as a student-athlete, including winning the Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) Championship in 2014. Reading and Navy earned a pair of Star victories, once as a player and another as a coach.
In 2016, Reading graduated from the Naval Academy and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps.
He attended The Basic School in Quantico, Va. from 2016-17. Reading departed Quantico as a pilot/student at MATSG-21 in 2017, honing his skills through rigorous pilot training at MATSG-22 from 2017-18. His commitment to excellence was evident as he pursued advanced training with VT-27 "Boomers" in 2018, followed by immersive experiences with HT-18 "Hellions" and VT-35 "Stingrays" in 2019, specializing in TH-57B/C and T-44C respectively.
As he continued to ascend in his aviation career, Reading's determination propelled him to new heights in his primary platform, the MV-22B Osprey. While training with the VMMT-204 "Raptors" in 2020, he worked in the logistics department and as the Navigation Officer. Upon completing his training with the Fleet Replacement Squadron, Reading departed for MCAS Miramar where Reading's leadership qualities came to the forefront, as he assumed the roles of Navigation Officer and Operations Officer with VMM-362 "Ugly Angels," where he operated the MV-22B from 2020-24.
His commitment to duty saw him deploy with VMM-362 as part of SPMAGTF-CR21.1 from 2020-21, gaining invaluable experience in high-pressure environments and earning an Air Medal. He spent a brief period in Al-Udeid, Qatar with the Combined Air Operations Center. Building on this foundation, he was assigned as Aviation Life Support System Officer as well as MV-22B Pilot with VMM-362 (REIN) "Ugly Angels" from 2021-23, where he deployed with the 13TH MEU from 2022-23. His expertise and leadership qualities were recognized, leading to his appointment as Aviation Safety Officer and the Director of Safety and Standardization with VMM-362 "Ugly Angels" until 2024, where he played a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of aviation operations.
Upon his return, Reading continued his service as the Director of Safety and Standardization until he was chosen to lead the Navy sprint football team as head coach.
