Eastern Washington University Coach David Riley finishes cutting the net at Reese Court after leading Eastern Washington to the 2022-23 Big Sky championship. He now moves to the same job at Washington State.
CHENEY - For the third time in the past eight seasons Eastern Washington will be looking for a new men's head basketball coach following David Riley's departure to Washington State.
After three years as head coach where he won back-to-back Big Sky Conference regular-season titles - and coach-of-the-year honors as well - Riley takes over the Cougars' job left vacant by Kyle Smith's move to Stanford.
"We wish the best to coach and (wife) Emily as they make their move down 195 to Whitman County and look forward to continuing the rivalry between our institutions in the future," Eastern Athletic Director Tim Collins said.
Riley had been with the program since 2011 when he came from Whitworth with the hiring of Jim Hayford. He compiled a 62-38 overall record at Eastern, among those a pair of wins over WSU. He was 42-14 in Big Sky Conference play including marks of 16-2 and 15-3 earning regular season championships.
Riley started as a graduate assistant and the team's director of operations. He earned his masters' degree from Eastern in 2013 and in 2014, was promoted to assistant coach.
Other recent Eastern coaches moving on have included Shantay Legans to the University of Portland in 2021 after four seasons and Hayford to Seattle University in 2017 following six campaigns with the Eagles.
In the past decade Eastern teams have become the winningest program in the Big Sky with two NCAA Tournament appearances, one National Invitational berth plus a variety of other post-season selections.
The search for our next head coach will begin immediately," Collins said. "We will work to identify a leader who will continue to build on the basketball success we have all celebrated."
Reader Comments(0)