This bio is now a part of a historical archive, the individual was on the staff in 2018 and is no longer employed by Wilkes University.
Brett Riley begins his first year as the head coach of the newly created Wilkes Men's Ice Hockey program in 2018.
Riley comes to Wilkes after a successful stint as the head coach of the varsity hockey program at the Albany Academy. At Albany, Riley instilled an exceptional record of positive coaching while building a winning varsity hockey team. As the youngest head coach in NEPSAC hockey, Riley's teams reached historic records within three years. Through an innovative, energetic style, the program elevated from a seven-win season in 2013 placing 46th of 63 teams, to the NEPSAC Large School Runner up in 2017. Under Riley's guidance the program was pre-season ranked, hosted and won a semifinal game and competed in the Large School NEPSAC Championship for the first time in school history. Riley also served as the head strength and conditioning coach while at the academy.
Riley also founded and maintained operations of GEN3 Hockey, an elite youth hockey program dedicated to teaching, motivating and improving the hockey experience of young athletes. The program includes on and off ice coaching and training and has grown from three teams and 70 players in 2010 to 42 teams and 855 players to date. It has also developed 12 NHL draft picks further extending the reach of influence over players at all levels.
Riley served as a player consultant at GDA Hockey where he expertly identified high-level NCAA prospects and built relations in the New England area. He will use his experience coaching and teaching young adults in his transition to the college ranks at Wilkes.
Riley is no stranger to the rink as a third generation hockey coach. His father Rob served as head coach at Army for 19 years and is currently an amateur scout for the NHL's Buffalo Sabres. Jack Riley, Brett's grandfather, coached at West Point for more than 35 years, after coaching the United States to the gold medal at the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics. He also played for the U.S. Olympic team at the 1948 St. Moritz Olympics.
Riley, a native of South Hamilton, Massachusetts, earned his Bachelor's degree in History from Hobart College in 2014 where he was a three-time ECAC West All-Academic Team selection during his four-year career on the ice for the Statesmen.
