Collinsville Coach Builds Camaraderie Through Red Dot Reading Club

As the sun rises over Collinsville on weekdays, Coach Tom Redding is driving a bus full of kids to school. By the time the sun sets on Friday night, he is coaching the football team.

"There are so many things that we teach other than the game of football- it is the game of life," said Coach Tom Redding.

Coach Redding will do just about any job that needs to be done at Collinsville Public Schools, he always has. He'll tell you he is just doing what is right.

"He has got a pretty high community approval rating I should say,” Collinsville High School Principal Scott Kiker said. “Seems like everybody loves Coach Redding.”  

Things can get a little chaotic on the bus each day, so Redding asked the community for some books for the kids to read and hundreds were donated.

"We carried them around. I had a little library up here and it was really kind of neat and every time they read a book, I would give them a red dot- something so simple and they cherished that red dot," said Coach Redding.

The Red Dot Reading Club was born.

"When they achieve a goal, we see that and is reinforcement to us that they are enjoying what they are doing," said Coach Redding.

Due to COVID-19, Coach Redding hasn't been able to put physical books on the bus, but the Red Dot Reading Club is still on – through an app.

This is the kind of thing that has made Coach Redding somewhat of a household name on campus. He works extra hours to make sure students feel believed in and cared for, going out of his way to bring a smile to every child’s face.

For more information on his Red Dot Reading Club, visit the website here.