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By Paul Sokoloski psokoloski@timesleader.com
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WILKES-BARRE – From the time he arrived in Philadelphia, Eagles coach Andy Reid has been a champion of change.

At first, he promised to turn around the losing culture surrounding the Eagles. When they became winners, he vowed to take them to the Super Bowl. And when they walked away from the NFL’s biggest stage three points shy of winning a Super Bowl three years ago, he swore he wouldn’t rest until his Eagles attained the title.

It’s no surprise then that Reid arrived at Genetti’s Convention and Hotel Center to make a rare promotional appearance Thursday at the Volunteers of America Celebrity Dinner.

After all, the organization is just as dedicated to making changes as the Eagles head coach is.

“I don’t do much (public speaking engagements) at all,” Reid said. “And I have opportunities to do a bunch of them. I kind of like what the Volunteers of America stand for. They’re committed in so many areas, helping people become better people and helping people in need become independent.

“It’s a tribute to the hard work they put in.”

That’s similar to the way Reid has committed nine years of his life to helping the Eagles become a better football team.

He walked into Philadelphia on Jan. 11, 1999, as a little-known assistant off the Green Bay Packers coaching staff, and almost immediately made it his goal to turn around the sour attitude that permeated the 3-13 Eagles team he took over.

Two years later, the Eagles finished 11-5, won a wild card playoff game and reached the NFC divisional playoff round.

And one of the most successful runs in Philadelphia sports history was under way.

During Reid’s nine seasons in Philadelphia, the Eagles have made the playoffs six times, reached four consecutive NFC title games (from 2002 through 2006) and were edged 24-21 by the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXIX.

As he enters his 10th season at the Eagles’ helm, Reid carries a .608 winning percentage with an 88-56 record, is 8-6 in the playoffs with at least one victory every time he’s taken the Eagles to the postseason and has been twice named NFL Coach of the Year.

It’s a long way from the dismal days that plagued the end of the Ray Rhodes era.

“There’s nothing you want to change in the attitude of the city,” said Reid, who has always loved the passion of Philadelphia fans. “With the Eagles, yeah. The culture of the Eagles – people (now) want to win, they have won and they have an expectation of that.”

Still, the Eagles have missed the playoffs during two of the past three seasons, including last year’s fourth-place finish in the NFC East that required a three-game season-ending winning streak just to produce an 8-8 record.

“We didn’t finish as well as we wanted,” Reid said. “The positive thing is we finished strong, winning the last three games. You go out and do evaluations – self-evaluations on the schemes and then the evaluations on the personnel. When you get done with that, you try to fix those problems.”

Which only means more changes.

The Eagles signed All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel away from the Patriots in the offseason, then grabbed defensive end Chris Clemons and his eight sacks from Oakland.

“That’s a pretty good way to start the free agency,” Reid said.

The Eagles traded away their fourth-round draft pick this year to acquire running back Lorenzo Booker from Miami in an effort to take some pressure off all-everything Brian Westbrook in the backfield. And they selected defensive tackle Trevor Laws and wide receiver DeSean Jackson – both with play-making potential – in the second round of the draft.

All in an effort to keep hopes for the Eagles sky-high.

“You always make your number one goal to win the Super Bowl,” Reid said.

Chances are, he won’t sit still even when he does.

“The team looked like they were fast and quick during the (recent) mini-camp that we had,” Reid said. “We think we’re headed in the right direction.”