EP50 A Lifetime of Coaching with Coach Brian Riley, Head Hockey Coach at United States Military Academy at West Point

WPAOG Podcast

This episode features an interview with Coach Brian Riley, Head Hockey Coach at United States Military Academy at West Point.

Coach Riley has 18 seasons as Army hockey’s Head Coach. Following 14 years as an assistant to his brother Rob and a lifetime of hockey education from his father Jack, Brian knew all about the U.S. Military Academy. Over his 17 seasons at the helm, Brian is just the third Army hockey coach in the past 70 years, following in the footsteps of his father and brother who led the program before him. Aside from his standard coaching responsibilities, Brian served as the President of the American Hockey Coaches Association from 2014-17. He has also served on the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee from 2013-18. Brian began his coaching career in 1984 after graduating from Brown in 1983.

In this episode, Coach Riley relives his father’s stories, specifically his success in hockey at the 1960 Squaw Valley Winter Olympics and receiving an Olympic gold medal as a coach. He also talks about his own personal journey towards achieving his dream job and fulfilling the Riley family legacy.

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Key Quotes

“I truly believe that, I don't care what sport it is here at West Point, if you put on a jersey and it has Army across your chest, you better be frigging tough. And so, that has always been something that we try to work toward. being a team that is tough, being a team that is, that is hard to play against. And, I think those are the type of young men that come here to West Point that we have the honor to coach.” - Coach Brian Riley

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Episode Timestamps

(03:23) Brian’s dream job

(06:13) The Riley family legacy

(14:18) Squaw Valley Olympics

(18:51) Riley Hockey Clinic

(22:24) Brian’s coaching journey

(28:21) Becoming West Point’s Head Hockey Coach

(33:02) Derek Hines and Tom Kennedy

(36:03) 1,000 victories for the Riley family

(37:35) The Jack Riley Trophy

(38:29) Brian’s sons and hockey

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Links

Coach Brian Riley’s Twitter

Nikolai Busko’s Twitter

West Point Association of Graduates