[1] At both Cashmere and North Central, Reese was responsible for coaching all sports and teaching physical education classes.

Eastern did not field a team from 1943 to 1945, and Reese served in the Army Air Forces; he ended with a career record of 66–26–9 (.698), winning five conference championships.

[6] In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Reese was a member of the faculty of the State Normal School (now known as Eastern Washington University) since 1930.

In 1948, Reese was responsible for organizing the intramural recreation program at Eastern Washington College of Education (EWCE).

[19] During his military career, Reese coached the Second Air Force Superbomber football team to 20 victories and one tie out of 23 games played during the 1942 and 1943 seasons.

[22] Those questions erupted into outrage when Reese was erroneously listed in the college's spring 1953 catalog as holding a Master of Education degree that had not yet been defended or awarded: the Faculty Council demanded an investigation into the situation, as allegations began to rise that Reese had conspired with the college's president and others in the administration to essentially secure the degree without completing all its requirements.

[22][23] Reese withdrew his candidacy for the degree entirely, but the controversy that became known as "the Reese Affair" in the school newspaper and local media continued to unfold: ultimately, while the investigations into these events never turned up any evidence to suggest that Reese had engaged in any misconduct, he was removed as the head of the Health, Recreation, and Physical Education Division (while keeping his AD and coaching responsibilities), and numerous other members of the faculty either resigned or were fired, including Dr. Otis Willard Freeman, the college's president.

[22][24][25] Despite the board of trustees affirming that "there is no evidence of any work, action, or intent on [Reese's] part indicating his guilt,"[22] some in the college and surrounding community were dissatisfied with this outcome; a letter to the editor in a local paper, published a few days after the Board's announcement, asserts hotly that Reese had used "threats and coercion" to intimidate his colleagues and claims that "his clique...is powerful enough to dictate the entire college policy.

"[16] According to his obituary, "Reese was a member of the Cheney Masonic Lodge, the Shrine in Spokane, Kappa Sigma Fraternity, the WSU Crimson Circle, the EWSC Scarlet Arrow, and the Othello Rotary Club.

The 2009 edition of ESPN's College Basketball Encyclopedia, in its entry for Eastern Washington University, named Reese as "Best Coach" in the institution's history.