Over the course of his 30+ year career coaching football, new head coach of the Bentley Falcons Alvin Reynolds has mentored players of every caliber, from kids learning the fundamentals in Pop Warner to seasoned NFL veterans. And if you sit down to speak with him about his lifetime in the sport, it’s clear that he remembers just about every one of them. That’s because for Alvin, who first joined the Bentley football coaching staff as a defensive backs coach in 2018, the relationship building has been one of his favorite aspects of coaching football. 

After all, it was the relationships he developed while playing that helped him to make the transition from player to coach, then to the NFL. As a four-year standout defensive player at Indiana State, Alvin was the first player in the school’s history to receive a vote for the Heisman Trophy, an award presented each year to the most outstanding player in college football. But it wasn’t just his performance on the field that helped him to stand out at Indiana State and beyond. 

As a student, Alvin was intrigued by analytics and computers — still in their infancy for personal use — after learning how programs were used in the Registrar’s Office at Indiana State. As he transitioned from player to coach, he took what he learned and developed one of the first computing systems at Indiana State to help evaluate and track player performance and development.

In his first few years as a defensive coach, Alvin was getting noticed by the NFL coaches who would visit Indiana State to scout players preparing to enter the draft. In particular, a Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coach named Tony Dungy — who would go on to coach the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl championship and be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame — was impressed when in back-to-back years, Alvin told him to watch specific players in the draft. In both cases, the players Alvin recommended were taken with high draft picks, showing their impressive potential.​​​

That relationship paid off, when in 1993 Tony Dungy recommended Alvin to a staff member of the Denver Broncos for a position on the team’s defensive coaching staff. “It was an incredible opportunity,” said Alvin. “I had a chance as a young coach to meet some of the best coaches ever. From Dick LeBeau to Tony Dungy and other greats, I really cherished those relationships.”

Over the next 19 years, Alvin continued to forge relationships with coaches and players alike. Coaching for five teams during his tenure in the NFL, Alvin helped countless future hall of famers progress on the defensive side of play. From his early years in Denver to serving as the first-ever defensive backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens in their inaugural year in the league, Alvin had a notable impact developing players in a league known for its extreme competitiveness. “Alvin is a very professional coach. He wants you to not only be the best player you can be, but the best person,” said Hall of Fame defensive player and two-time Super Bowl Champion Steve Atwater. “Alvin had a lasting impact on me. Even though it’s been many years since he coached me, we still stay in touch.”

Atwater, along with other greats, shared their fondness for Alvin in the recent announcement of his promotion to the head coach of the Bentley Falcons football team. But don’t ask Alvin what they said in the announcement. “I like to stay humble, so I didn’t even read the full announcement,” he said. “I know who was quoted in it, but to me, it was more about the friendships that we’ve kept over the years. I appreciate that the most.”
 

As head coach, Alvin looks forward to helping Falcons football, and specifically our student-athletes, succeed by continuing to strengthen his relationships within the campus community. Already a familiar face around campus as a frequent event attendee, that shouldn’t be a tall order. In 2020, in just his second year on the Falcons football staff, Alvin was named the recipient of the Dr. Earl L. Avery MLK Leadership Award after being nominated by students for his positive contributions to creating a diverse and inclusive culture on campus, an honor he holds proudly.

“I was sitting in the audience hearing the description of the person they were giving the award to, and it didn’t even cross my mind that I would win it,” said Alvin. “I was thinking, ‘Who else at Bentley is from Louisiana?’ Then when they mentioned 19 years in the NFL, I was shocked. I don’t even remember walking to the podium to accept the award.” As Alvin begins his tenure as Bentley’s head football coach, it’s clear that he’s doing so with the support of so many who he has had an impact on over the years.

When he’s not coaching and developing game plans for upcoming opponents, Alvin likes to wind down and clear his head by riding his Harley Davidson, a hobby he picked up while coaching for the Atlanta Falcons. “Coaching is very demanding and takes a lot of your time, so I needed to find a way to unplug,” he explained. “I threw a dart at a map and decided to go wherever it landed when I first got the bike. That turned into a completely unplanned 1,200-mile round trip to the Outer Banks in North Carolina.” 

In addition to exploring New England’s roads, Alvin is an avid movie fan, keeping track of every movie he’s seen in theaters since 1993. He now keeps a list on his phone, and since December 2017 has seen 147 movies, most recently seeing the new “Top Gun” twice. 

Before the pre-season workouts begin, Alvin will likely invest some more time in the movie theater and on his Harley before he continues to invest in his players in the Bentley community. “Most people invest in things, but I invest in relationships. To me, it’s about who you are and how you carry yourself that’s most important.”

Earlier this month, Sanjay Putrevu joined our community as the dean of business and Robert and Julia Dorn research professor. Sanjay brings with him more than two decades of administrative experience in higher education. He most recently served as the dean and Monte Ahuja Endowed Chair professor at the Monte Ahuja College of Business at Cleveland State University, where he increased the institution’s international presence through strategic partnerships, assisted with key fundraising goals and oversaw the college’s re-accreditation process. As Sanjay continues to familiarize himself with campus, take a moment to learn more about our new dean of business! 
 

Where did you work before joining Bentley? Cleveland State University
Favorite snack: Chocolate – partial to Lindor and Toblerone
What’s on your bucket list? Getting to know faculty, staff, students and the broader Bentley community and working with them to take Bentley forward
Favorite travel destination: Paris
Hidden talent: I'm a good table tennis player
Hobbies: Reading, traveling and sports
Favorite movie: Lord of the Rings
Favorite television show: Seinfeld

Outside of her role on campus, Senior Academic Coordinator Renande Loayza has for years served as a resource to her community in the City of Newton to help raise awareness and bolster initiatives aimed at supporting diversity, equity and inclusion. Last year, Renande received the 2021 Newton Human Rights Award for her dedication planning a Juneteenth celebration for the Newton community. This year, Renande has been hard at work again to plan the city's annual Juneteenth celebration, and all are invited to attend! The event will be held on Sunday, June 19 from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. at Newton North High School. The event is free to attend, a measure intended for guests to instead support the Black-owned businesses who will be selling food, art and raffles throughout the day. 

As a member of the Families Organizing for Racial Justice at Newton North High School steering committee, Renande has played an important role in organizing this year's event, building on her longtime track record advocating for racial justice in Newton. This year, Bentley will be well represented at the Juneteenth celebration. Thanks to Renande's efforts. Tipping Cow ice cream will be in attendance, a Black-owned business founded by alumna Gerly Adrien ’11. Assistant Professor in Information Design and Corporate Communication David Stamps will be performing, and art from Ombuds Eliane Markoff will be on display. 

Interested in attending the event? Learn more below! 

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