‘I have put in the work’ - Reynolds disappointed with KC separation but proud of legacy

Vassell Reynolds, former head coach of Kingston College (KC), has expressed mixed emotions following his departure from the North Street-based institution.

Reynolds, who spent the past three years at KC as Manning Cup coach, was forced to leave the position after his contract, which ended on Wednesday, was not renewed as both parties failed to reach an agreement. The Gleaner first reported last month that Reynolds’ contract would not be renewed by the institution.

“Today [Tuesday] my contract came to an end and both parties have amicably decided not to continue the relationship going forward," said Reynolds.

“My only disappointment is that we could not come to an amicable decision because when I went to Kingston College in 2023, 14 players exited the programme and the programme was at its lowest and I set sail from 2023 and at the end of my contract, I can proudly say I have put in the work for the entire football programme, both senior and junior, and KC is well placed as one of the strongest football programmes right now after my three-year tenure,” he said.

Reynolds’ tenure at KC was marked by several notable achievements. In his first season in 2023, he guided the team to the semi-finals of both the Manning and Champions Cup competitions. He followed that with an outstanding 2024 campaign, leading KC to titles in the Manning Cup and the Olivier Shield.

However, the 2025 season saw a dip in form, with KC exiting the Manning Cup at the second-round stage, an outcome that appears to have influenced the school’s decision not to renew his contract.

“Those youngsters that I would have started out with in 2023, I know that core yearned for us to continue the relationship until they are out of school, and a lot of these kids are feeling very disappointed now.  And that is one of the reasons why I am feeling disappointed, too, because with those core players, we just never finished the journey together,” Reynolds said.

“All in all, I am not seeing it as a big pot of food that has turned over, but I am just disappointed that we could not come to an amicable decision and at least finish with the group of players that I started with in 2023, when I started to rebuild the programme.

“But having said that, I feel good about the legacy that I have left at Kingston College, and so I am feeling proud of my three-year tenure; but for now I will remain as a teacher there,” he added.

Efforts to get a comment from Dave Myrie, principal of Kingston College, proved futile as several calls to his mobile phone went unanswered.

Reynolds also noted that he remains involved at the national level with Jamaica’s youth football programme.

“I am currently involved at the national level with the youth programmes, especially with the under-17 team that is currently preparing for the World Cup this year. But as to another programme, we will see what happens,” he said.

Reynolds, a vastly experienced coach with more than two decades in the sport, previously led Rusea’s High School to the daCosta Cup title in 2017. He also guided Wolmer’s Boys’ School to the 2016 Champions Cup final and Manning Cup final, where they lost 2-1 to Jamaica College.