Riley Named Assistant Coach

CLEMSON, S.C. — Richie Riley has been named an assistant coach for the Tigers, announced today. He joins the staff after two seasons as an assistant coach at UAB and fills the void left by Earl Grant, who was named head coach at the College of Charleston last week.

“Richie Riley is an outstanding young coach with a track record of success,” said head coach Brad Brownell. “He has worked his way up the coaching ladder by having a passion for the game of basketball. This is shown in the way he recruits and builds relationships with student-athletes and coaches. He has a very bright future in this business, and we’re excited to add him to our program.”

Riley spent the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons coaching under Jerod Haase at UAB. He helped the Blazers to an 18-13 overall record, including a 63-59 victory over No. 16 North Carolina last December. He played an integral role in recruiting UAB’s large freshman class that includes Alabama’s reigning Mr. Basketball, William Lee.

“I’m extremely excited to join the Clemson basketball family,” said Riley, who was recently invited to the prestigious Nike Villa 7 as an up-and-coming assistant coach. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to work for Coach Brownell. He is someone I’ve always admired, because he started his coaching career on a similar path as mine. What he’s accomplished at Wilmington, Wright State and now Clemson has been remarkable. It’s exciting to have the chance to work under and learn from one of the best basketball minds in the country. “Clemson University is a special place with great leadership. The community is a perfect fit for my family. My wife Jess and I look forward to raising our son in such a great environment. It’s truly a blessing to be a Clemson Tiger.”

Prior to his time at UAB, Riley spent the 2011-12 season as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Eastern Kentucky. He also spent two seasons under former Clemson head coach Cliff Ellis at Coastal Carolina, helping the Chanticleer program to consecutive Big South regular season championships in 2010 and 2011. With Riley on staff, Coastal Carolina advanced to the NIT both of those seasons as well.

Riley was recruiting coordinator and assistant coach at Pikeville College from 2006-09, where he earned the honor of ‘Top NAIA Assistant’ from RecruitingRumors.com. He started his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Georgetown College in his home state of Kentucky from 2003-05, before working as an assistant for one season (2005-06) at Hawaii-Pacific.

Riley earned an undergraduate degree in special education with a minor in English from Eastern Kentucky in 2005. He played one season (2001-02) for then-EKU head coach Travis Ford.

Riley and his wife Jess have a son, Reese.