Reed Norton returned to Georgia Southern in 2016 as an assistant coach. He is instrumental in helping the team with training as well as working with the rest of the staff behind the scenes on scouting, practice plans and travel arrangements. In his first season back in Statesboro, the Eagles went 8-8-3 overall and 3-1-1 in Sun Belt Conference play, claiming a share of the regular-season league title with newcomer Coastal Carolina and earning a bye into the semifinal round of the Sun Belt Championship. The regular-season title is the first conference title for Georgia Southern in men’s soccer. The Eagles also ended the year 4-1-1 at home and 4-7-2 on the road. The Eagles’ 3-1-1 (.700) conference record was the best since the 2006 season when Georgia Southern went 4-1-2 (.714) in SoCon play. The 4-1-1 (.750) home mark was the best record in Statesboro for the men’s team since the 1997 season. That year, the Eagles went 6-1 at home.
Norton began his collegiate playing career at Georgia Southern, starting 37 games as a freshman and sophomore before transferring to N.C. State where he played in 33 matches as a junior and senior in 2014 and 2015. In his final two seasons, he accounted for three goals, including one game-winner on October 28, 2014 in the Wolf Pack’s 4-1 win over Liberty.