|
July
31, 2004
Riley
Replaces Riley at Army
Older brother
Rob retires after 18 years at helm
 |
| Rob
Riley succeeded his father, Jack, at Army 18 years ago. |
After 18 years
as head coach of Army’s hockey program, Rob Riley announced
his retirement from college coaching today, ending a coaching career
that spanned more than three decades. Director of Athletics Rick
Greenspan named Brian Riley, associate head coach of the Black Knights
for the past five years, to succeed his older brother at the helm
of the Black Knights’ program.
Rob Riley, who
won his 300th career game last January, stood 14th among active
head coaches on the NCAA all-time wins list following this past
winter’s campaign. Only eight other current head coaches in
the nation have been with the same school longer than Riley. He
leaves the coaching profession to pursue an opportunity with Legg
Mason Inc. in Boston, Mass.
He concludes
his coaching career at Army with a 257-288-33 (.473) mark and an
overall ledger of 306-302-34 (.503). Riley and his father, legendary
Hall of Famer Jack Riley, are the all-time winningest father-son
combination in college hockey history with 848 victories between
them. The elder Riley finished his storied coaching career second
on the all-time wins list with 542 victories, a mark that still
ranks in the top 10.
Thoughts
on Brian |
 The
Army sports information department collected the following
comments about Brian Riley from around the coaching world:
“Brian
will do a terrific job at West Point. His association with
the Academy over the years, coupled with the knowledge and
experience gained from growing up with his father (Jack) and
working alongside his brother (Rob) will help him as he embarks
on this next challenge. I think it is a very positive situation
for both Brian and the Army hockey program.”
— Jerry York,
Boston College
“This is a great opportunity for Brian. His experience,
knowledge of the game and character, is exactly what Army
is looking for in a head coach. He is very well prepared for
this next step. Brian is a mature coach with a great mentality.
He is a person who communicates well and can maximize each
player’s potential. His dedication to recruiting and
the experiences gained working at Shattuck (St. Mary’s),
probably the No. 1 prep school program in the nation right
now, will serve him well.”
— Andy Murray,
L.A. Kings
“I think (Army athletic director) Rick Greenspan and
the Academy made a great decision in promoting Brian to head
coach. He is a veteran assistant coach who has seen a lot
of hockey at the Division I level. You will not find a more
competitive family than the Riley’s, but more importantly,
they win the right way. Brian is a great mentor and the Academy
could not have made a better choice.”
— Don Vaughan,
Colgate
“I first met Brian while he was coaching my two sons
at Shattuck St. Mary’s, and I hold Brian in highest
regards. He is a man of his word with a great deal of character
and integrity. He will continue to bring that to the Army
hockey program. As a head coach, Brian is ready to take the
reins. He is a player’s coach who really relates well
to the kids. I am excited for him and this opportunity. Brian
will keep West Point moving forward.”
— Mike Eaves,
Wisconsin
|
The youngest
Riley son, who has spent 14 of the past 16 years as an assistant
at West Point, becomes just the third head coach of the hockey program
in the past 55 years, following his father, who coached the Black
Knights for 36 seasons (1951-86), and Rob, who coached Army from
1986-2004.
“It has
been a privilege to coach the Army hockey team for the past 19 years,”
Rob Riley said. “Representing the U.S. Military Academy, while
having the opportunity to work with so many outstanding young leaders,
has been a very rewarding experience. I am proud of the many contributions
our players have made to the Academy both on and off the ice and
wish them all the best of luck in their future endeavors.”
“We are
certainly sad to see Rob leave West Point. The Riley name has been
synonymous with Army Hockey for more than a half-century and no
one embodies the principles of the Academy more than Rob Riley,”
Greenspan said. “Throughout his tenure here, Rob has built
a strong hockey program ‘the right way’ and his tireless
dedication to his players, his staff, the hockey community and the
Academy will be sorely missed. While we wish him well as he moves
on to a new chapter in his life, we know he leaves the program in
capable hands.”
Riley’s
distinguished coaching career includes two straight 20-win seasons
while at Army and five consecutive winning campaigns in the mid
1990s. He authored a 13-3-2 mark against Canadian rival Royal Military
College (RMC), helping the Black Knights to a commanding overall
lead in that series. In addition, Army has qualified for the postseason
in each of the past four years.
A 1983 graduate
of Brown University, Brian Riley, 45, began his coaching career
with a three-year stint as an assistant coach at SUNY Plattsburgh
in Upstate New York. During that time, the Cardinals advanced to
the NCAA Division III Tournament three times, reaching the championship
game twice.
Following that
championship season, Riley left the north country for the Division
I ranks and UMass Lowell. There, he teamed with cousin Bill Riley
for one season, directing the River Hawks to the NCAA Tournament,
giving him his fourth straight postseason appearance.
Riley, a native
of West Point, returned to his hometown in 1989 as an assistant
on the Black Knights’ staff following stops at Plattsburgh
and Lowell. In 1996, he ventured to Minnesota where he carved out
a stellar career as head coach of Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep
in Faribault, Minn. Riley etched a 94-19-10 record into the books
during his two seasons. He returned to the East Coast and the friendly
confines of West Point in 1999, where he has served as Army’s
associate head coach since.
“I want
to thank (Superintendent) Lt. Gen. (William J.) Lennox and Rick
Greenspan for giving me this opportunity,” Riley said. “You
always hear people talk about having their dream job. Well, this
has always been my dream. I am also very thankful to my brother
Rob. I am sure that if it were not for him, I would not be in this
position today. I had the opportunity to be an assistant coach at
West Point for 14 years and it has been a tremendous honor. Now,
to be named head coach is truly humbling.”
“Brian
Riley was the clear-cut choice to become our next head coach,”
Greenspan said. “Like Rob, Brian has spent a large portion
of his life at West Point. He knows what it takes for cadets to
be successful, both on and off the ice, and he has worked ‘hand-in-hand’
with Rob to build Army Hockey into one of the most respected programs
in the country. Brian has the requisite experience and background
to be the head coach at any institution in the country, but his
dedication and devotion rest with the Black Knights. I am convinced
he will guide our program to new heights.”
The younger
Riley will look to continue a long line of successful coaching campaigns
within his family. In addition to Jack and Rob, Bill Riley won 376
games during his college coaching career. The Riley family has racked
up 1,224 victories in a combined 77 years. |
