3rd Generation Riley Named 1st LIU Coach

CHN Staff Report

Brett Riley, an assistant coach at Colgate last season, has been named Long Island University's first head coach.

“We are excited that Brett is joining our Shark Nation family!” LIU athletic director Bill Martinov said. “He has great experience with establishing a new program, he is a fantastic recruiter, and he understands the importance of an exceptional student-athlete experience.”

Prior to Colgate, Riley, a 2014 graduate of Hobart, spent three seasons as head coach at Albany Academy, then one season starting the program at D-III Wilkes (Pa.), where he won conference Coach of the Year. Obviously, he will be in the same situation, starting a program from scratch, with LIU.

"We will work tirelessly to build a highly competitive program on the ice, in the classroom and throughout the community," Riley said. "Our student athletes we will represent Long Island University with character, class and pride. Long Island and the greater New York area are producing many top end elite young hockey players. We plan on making our program a destination for many of these local hockey players, along with players from across the United States, Canada and Europe. Both of my parents, Rob and Debbie, earned their master's degrees from Long Island University, so it feels in a way like coming home. I am very excited to become the first men's hockey coach at Long Island University."

LIU announced it was starting a D-I men's program earlier this month, one year after its launch of a women's program. The school says it wants to start playing this fall, though putting together a roster and schedule could be challenging. The current coronavirus pandemic is just another challenge.

Three of Riley's relatives have been the head coach at Army for the past 70 years, starting with grandfather Jack, a U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer. Jack Riley coached until 1986, when he was replaced by his son, Rob, who is Brett's father. Rob Riley, who is currently a scout for the Buffalo Sabres, handed the Army reins to his brother, Brian (Brett's uncle), in 2004. The Riley patriarchs consisted of three brothers who all starred at Dartmouth in the 1940s, Jack, Bill and Joe. Bill's son, Bill Riley Jr., was head coach at Massachusetts-Lowell from 1969-91.

Brett's cousins, Jack and Brendan, both played for Mercyhurst in recent years. Jack is now an assistant coach at D-III Manhattanville.