Monday, University of Lowell coach Bill Riley announced his
decision to retire after the upcoming season to take a faculty
position in the school's Department of Physical Education.
Riley has coached at Lowell for 21 years and has run up a
record of 353-247-22. He took the Lowell program from its
beginnings and built it into a Division II powerhouse, leading
to the team's moving to Division One and Hockey East. Riley
came to ULowell (from Lehigh) in 1969 when it was known as Lowell Tech
and is only the school's second coach (the first being some obscure
guy who coached a couple of games in 1969-70). Lowell Tech
became ULowell in 1975.
Riley's teams won four ECAC Division II titles and three NCAA
Division Two championships before the NCAA abolished the Div. II
tournament. He is perhaps the epitome of "old-time hockey". His teams
earned their spot in Division I through hard work and good, old-fashioned
intimidation. The move by Merrimack to Hockey East this past season
renewed the long-standing rivalry between the teams that began in
the early 70s in Division II. Although I didn't see it, I have heard
about the legendary "greatest college hockey brawl of all time" which
took place at the Boston Garden in a game between Merrimack and Riley's
Chiefs - a brawl that spilled over into the stands and resulted in the
forced cancellation of the game. That was the last Division II game
played in the Garden...
His coaching record:
Year Overall League Season Highlights
1969-70 11-6-0 8-6-0
1970-71 9-8-1 7-8-1
1971-72 12-11-1 8-10-1
1972-73 12-10-1 11-9-1
1973-74 9-12-1 7-12-1
1974-75 14-8-0 13-7-0
1975-76 11-10-1 11-10-1
1976-77 17-9-1 16-8-1
1977-78 17-6-1 16-5-1
1978-79 27-6-0 21-5-0 ECAC2 & NCAA2 Champions
1979-80 23-7-0 19-4-0
1980-81 27-5-0 18-3-0 ECAC2 & NCAA2 Champions
1981-82 31-4-0 19-1-0 ECAC2 & NCAA2 Champions
1982-83 29-2-0 18-0-0 ECAC2 Champions
Moved to Division I in 83-84; HE in 84-85
1983-84 15-16-3 ----- Independent
1984-85 15-25-2 11-21-2 5th in HE / 4th playoffs
1985-86 11-29-2 7-25-2 6th in HE / 3rd playoffs
1986-87 22-12-2 20-10-2 2nd in HE / 3rd playoffs
1987-88 20-17-2 12-14-0 4th in HE / 3rd playoffs /
lost NCAA first round at Wisconsin
1988-89 8-24-2 4-21-1 7th in HE / missed playoffs
1989-90 13-20-2 5-14-2 7th in HE / 7th playoffs
Riley was named Hockey East Coach of the Year in 1987, when
his Chiefs finished 2nd in the league in only their fourth
year in Division I, and was named New England Hockey Writers
Division II Coach of the Year three times. Former players
he coached include NHLers Craig MacTavish, Mark Kumpel, and
Jon Morris. Morris, a native of Chelmsford, Mass., was
unquestionably the school's finest player, and Riley pulled
a major shocker in getting him to attend Lowell from 1984-88.
That played a big part in the Chiefs' immediate success upon
entering Division I.
Riley said, "This is an opportunity to take the best of both
worlds. It allows me to go back to the faculty and to explore
other possibilities in the future. [one of those being named
head coach of the U.S. Olympic Team? - mike] My goals when I
came to Lowell were to make the program competitive in
Division II, then win a Division II championship, and finally move
the program to Division I. I have accomplished all those goals,
and this opportunity to move back into teaching allows me to do
other things."
Bill Riley's relatives in the Division I coaching ranks include
Jack Riley (uncle, I believe), who coached Army from 1950-86 and
directed the 1960 U.S. Olympic Team to a gold medal, and Jack's
son Rob Riley, currently head man at Army.
The school said a national search for a new coach would begin in
the fall with Riley's successor to be named after the 90-91 season.
There are no early favorites for the job. Like Clarkson, Lowell
has announced plans to build a new downtown rink to replace the Joe
Tully Forum, which is several miles from campus, so the new man
will also be inheriting a new building.
As one who's been on the other side from Riley's teams, I have enjoyed
rooting against him and his henchmen, but there's no question that he
gets the most out of his players and is a great motivator. For the
past few years I've been suggesting that a guy like Riley should coach
the U.S. Olympic Team because I know they would give 100% everytime
they play. He's a guy who has always been around the game and knows it
and the rules better than almost anyone. It's been difficult recruiting
at Lowell because of the school's location, the rink's location and
condition, etc., but I think Riley has done a tremendous job considering
all these factors. Hockey East and college hockey will miss him.
In a game against Merrimack this year, one of his players blocked a shot
with his leg and went down. He had to be helped off the ice and was met
by Riley, who first asked if he was ok, then snapped, "Good! Next time,
use your HEAD!". That's the Riley I'll remember.
- mike
p.s. thanks for the responses to my poll...keep them coming...results soon.
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