Rob Riley (ice hockey)

Rob Riley
Born (1955-01-15) January 15, 1955
West Point, New York, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 174 lb (79 kg; 12 st 6 lb)
Position Center
Played for Boston College (ECAC)
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career

1974–1978

Coaching career
Biographical details
Alma materBoston College
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1978–1980Boston College (assistant)
1980–1983St. Lawrence (assistant)
1983–1985Babson
1985–1986Army (assistant)
1986–2004Army
2010–2012Springfield Falcons
2021–2023Long Island (assistant)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
2013–2017Regis College (MA)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1x NCAA Division III men's ice hockey champion (1984)
Awards
Edward Jeremiah Award (1985)

Rob Riley (born January 15, 1955) is an American ice hockey coach who was the head coach of the Army Black Knights men's ice hockey from 1986 to 2004.

Career

Riley played at Boston College fron 1974 to 1978 and was co-captain his senior year.[1][2] He was a graduate assistant at BC for two seasons, then became an assistant coach at St. Lawrence.[1]

In 1983, Riley was named head hockey coach at Babson College.[3] He led the Beavers to an NCAA Division III championship in his first season. At 28, he was the youngest coach ever to win the title. The following season, he won the Edward Jeremiah Award. Riley served as associate coach under his father, John P. Riley Jr., at Army during the 1985–86 season. He succeeded his father as head coach the following season.[4] In his eighteen years at the school, Riley amassed a 257–288–33 record. He left coaching in 2004 for a position at Legg Mason and was succeeded by his younger brother and associate head coach, Brian Riley.[5] [6]

In addition to his work in the financial field, Riley was a part-time scout with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He returned to the bench in 2010 as head coach of the Blue Jackets' American Hockey League affiliate, the Springfield Falcons.[7] He was fired after the 2011–12 season and succeeded by Nolan Pratt.[8] He continued to work with the Blue Jackets as a regional scout.[9]

In January 2013, Riley became the athletic director at Regis College.[9] He was an amateur scout for the Buffalo Sabres from 2017 to 2021. He was a volunteer assistant for the LIU Sharks men's ice hockey team while his son, Brett, was head coach. Since 2023, Riley has been a scout for the Colorado Avalanche.[10]

Personal life

Riley is the son of former Army and United States men's national ice hockey team coach John P. Riley Jr., nephew of Bill and Joe Riley, and cousin of Bill Riley Jr.[2] He was one of five sibilings (four brothers and one sister) who played college hockey.[4]

Riley's son, Brett, is the current head coach of the Ferris State Bulldogs men's ice hockey team.[11] His nephews, Jack and Brendan Riley are also college hockey coaches.[10]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Babson Beavers (ECAC 2) (1983–1985)
1983–84 Babson 27–5–1 17–3–1 2nd NCAA National Champion
1984–85 Babson 22–9–0 16–6–0 2nd NCAA Quarterfinals
Babson: 49–14–1 23–9–1
Army Cadets (ECAC Hockey) (1986–1991)
1986–87 Army 9–19–1 6–16–0 11th
1987–88 Army 9–19–2 3–17–2 11th
1988–89 Army 13–16–1 6–15–1 10th
1989–90 Army 10–16–4 4–15–3 12th
1990–91 Army 8–18–3 3–17–2 11th
Army: 49–88–11 22–80–8
Army Cadets Independent (1991–1999)
1991–92 Army 13–17–1
1992–93 Army 16–11–1
1993–94 Army 14–16–0
1994–95 Army 20–13–1
1995–96 Army 24–9–1
1996–97 Army 19–13–2
1997–98 Army 18–15–1
1998–99 Army 16–16–3
Army: 140–110–10
Army Cadets (CHA) (1999–2000)
1999-00 Army 13–18–2 1–9–0 6th
Army: 13–18–2 1–9–0
Army Cadets (MAAC) (2000–2001)
2000–01 Army 14–20–1 11–15–0 7th MAAC Quarterfinals
Army: 14–20–1 11–15–0
Army Black Knights (MAAC) (2001–2003)
2001–02 Army 11–18–6 9–11–6 8th MAAC Quarterfinals
2002–03 Army 18–16–0 13–13–0 t-5th MAAC Quarterfinals
Army: 29–34–6 22–24–6
Army Black Knights (Atlantic Hockey) (2003–2004)
2003–04 Army 12–18–3 6–15–3 8th Atlantic Hockey Quarterfinals
Army: 12–18–3 6–15–3
Total: 306–302–34

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

[12]

References

  1. ^ a b "Rob Riley". hockeyDB. hockeyDB.com. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  2. ^ a b Concannon, Joe (January 27, 1984). "The Rileys' success is a family tradition". The Boston Globe.
  3. ^ "Miscellany: Rob Riley named hockey coach at Babson". The Boston Globe. September 21, 1983.
  4. ^ a b Rogers, Thomas (November 8, 1985). "Father and Son At West Point". The New York Times.
  5. ^ Riley Out, Riley In at Army :: USCHO.com :: U.S. College Hockey Online
  6. ^ Springfield Falcons – Rob Riley – Head Coach
  7. ^ Matheson, Jim (August 4, 2010). "Daum unable to land Springfield position; Blue Jackets go with former Army coach". Edmonton Journal.
  8. ^ Howlett, Trevor (August 15, 2012). "Pratt back with Falcons". Fort McMurray Today.
  9. ^ a b Pave, Marvin (January 26, 2013). "'Hockey guy' Rob Riley enjoying new challenge as athletic director at Regis". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  10. ^ a b "Rob Riley". Elite Prospects. Elite Prospects. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  11. ^ "Ferris State tabs LIU's Riley as its next head coach". USCHO. March 28, 2025. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  12. ^ "2011–12 Army Hockey Media Guide" (PDF). Go Army Sports. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 12, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
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