When it came to hiring a new coordinator for the color guard, Alan Black, the associate director of bands and only returning full-time staff member, knew exactly who he wanted, a band member he recruited back in 1995 when he was a student at nearby Hirschi High School — Jammal Cook Reyes.

“He’s got a lot of new good ideas,” Black said. “He’s been living in the Midwest and so he’s bringing in new ideas from groups he’s worked with, like some drum and bugle corps, things we haven’t had in the last few years. We hope he’ll want to stick around and continue to be involved with our groups.”

“I have seven beautiful girls who give me 100 percent every single practice,” Reyes, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin — Madison, said. “I’m excited to be a part of this team.”

Reyes said he has many goals for this year’s color guard. He hopes to add a little bit of “Midwest flair” to the performance, and he wants to help the girls get more comfortable with the show.

“I want us to look like a professional unit, because that’s exactly what we are,” Reyes said. “My goal is for us to become an award-winning color guard.”

In addition improving the guard as performers, Reyes said he has specific goals in mind for helping the entire music program. He says he wants to focus more on the girls’ technique, and working with them as individuals to help them work as a team.

He is also looking at the music department as a whole, and wants to do his part to help it grow.

“I want to build the numbers,” Reyes said. “I want to attract more students to MSU and to the music department.”

When the fall marching season is over, the color guard season ends and winter guard begins. MSU winter guard members have been actively competing in winter guard competition since 1991.

Sam Locke, freshman in audio engineering, said she is excited about being in the color guard and having Reyes as her director.

“The work is a lot harder than in high school. My previous guard directors have been really relaxed, but he [Reyes] is intense when he needs to be,” Locke said.

The band and color guard will give their first halftime performance of the year  Sept. 14 at Cowboys Stadium.