This is going to appear to be a very short post. However, the key to this post is following the links. If you follow the links, It will take you some time to read everything, but I’m hoping you will find it interesting, and it will make you a little more well rounded Blue Jacket fan.
Now that the Springfield Falcons have ended their season it’s time to look at one of the unsung heroes of the Blue Jackets organization. Springfield head coach Rob Riley . The preceding link is for the announcement that Rob was named as head coach of the Springfield falcons. It has a good summary of Rob’s history. Note that Rob suceeded his father as hockey coach at Army. So hockey has been in his family and therefore his blood for a long time. Oh, and BTW, Army is keeping the coaching position in the family as Rob’s younger brother Brian, replaced him as Army Head Coach.
Coach Riley must be a “Saint” The whole year this year, he never knew who he was going to have playing for him. Between the Blue Jacket call ups and the injuries the Falcons had, his team was in chaos all year long. His tenures as Army’s assistant coach and head coach must have provided a major part of his make up. He is obviously an educator. I have not heard a bad comment about the players he has been given to develop. Cam Atkinson, for example was sent to Springfield to improve his all around play, he was deemed to be good with the puck but not so strong without it. From what I’ve seen and the comments from the announcers on TV all commented as to how he had improved. Even as head coach, this development is only his responsibility, not necessary his hands on function, so below is information on his assistants.
So, to be complete, we must also include Rob’s staff, they are:
Mike Buckley- Goaltending coach
If you followed the links, you can see that the Blue Jackets have provided coaches with pretty good credentials.
UPDATE- AFTER THIS WAS WRITTEN BUT BEFORE PUBLISHING, THE BLUE JACKETS ANNOUNCED THAT ROB RILEY WOULD NOT BE RETURNING TO THE FALCONS AS COACH NEXT YEAR.