Riley was working as a Columbus Blue Jackets scout when the offer came his way.
Former Falcons coach Rob Riley, right, has his career pointed in a new direction.
After seven years in the Columbus Blue Jackets organization as a scout and head coach, Rob Riley has taken on a new challenge – director of athletics at Regis College of Weston, an NCAA Division III member.
Riley, who coached the Springfield Falcons of the AHL for the last two seasons, was working as a Columbus scout when the Regis offer came his way. He began his new duties Monday.
“I’m just getting settled in my new office. I need to get my ID, computer and parking pass straightened out, then I’ll be ready to go,” he said.
With this move, the 57-year-old Riley returns to a sports world familiar to him. He’s a former Boston College hockey captain who coached Babson College to an NCAA Division III title in 1984, and won coach of the year honors in 1985. He then spent 18 seasons as the successor to his father, Jack Riley, as head coach of hockey at West Point.
He joined the Columbus organization as a scout in 2007, then took the Springfield job in the summer of 2010.
Blue Jackets management relieved him of his duties last April, and he eventually returned to a scouting role.
“This is a good opportunity, and the timing was right. I’ll have an opportunity to mentor the good young coaches on our staff. It’s an easy transition for me – and only nine miles from my house,” Riley said.
Regis, which was a women’s college until 2007, does not offer hockey, football or baseball as varsity sports.
“There are a lot of other sports going on here – soccer, basketball, track, tennis, softball, lacrosse – and the college has new outdoor facilities which opened in 2009,” Riley said.
The former Falcons coach says he follows the progress of Springfield’s AHL club, which has many of his former players on its roster.
“They’ve already had five shutouts. I don’t think we had three in two years,” he said. “I’m glad to see them doing so well.”
Riley received a congratulatory e-mail from Bruce Landon, president/general manager of the Falcons.
“I’m glad for Rob. He’ll do a great job,” Landon said.
Garry Brown can be reached at geeman1918@yahoo.com