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W. C. Riley

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W. C. Riley
Riley pictured in Reveille 1931, Fort Hays yearbook
Biographical details
Born(1903-01-04)January 4, 1903
Scott City, Kansas, U.S.
DiedApril 30, 1954(1954-04-30) (aged 51)
Pottstown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1930–1934Fort Hays State
Head coaching record
Overall21–19–6
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 CIC (1934)

Wilbur Clifford "Jack" Riley (January 4, 1903 – April 30, 1954) was an American football coach, athletic administrator, and teacher.

Riley was born in Scott City, Kansas, in 1903. He attended Kansas State Teachers College of Hays located in Hays, Kansas, where he received varsity letters in both football and basketball.[1][2] He also played varsity baseball at Hays.[2][3]

After graduating from college, Riley coached high school football in Oberlin, Kansas for five years from 1925 to 1929.[1]

In 1930, he became the eighth head football coach at Kansas State Teachers College of Hays. He held that position for five seasons, from 1930 until 1934. His career coaching record at Hays was 21–19–6. This ranks him sixth at Hays in total wins and ninth at Hays in winning percentage.[4][5] His 1934 football team won the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAC) championship with a 6–2–1 record.[5] He was also the athletic director while at Hays.[2] The school's name was changed to Fort Hays State College in 1931.[6]

In September 1935, Riley joined the faculty of The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where he served at various times as football and baseball coach, athletic director, and an instructor in history and Bible.[1][7][8] In November 1952, Riley suffered a heart attack while coaching a football game.[9][10] He retired from athletic duties after suffering the heart attack, but remained at The Hill School as an instructor. He died in 1954 upon suffering his second heart attack in 16 months.[8][11]

Head coaching record

[edit]
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Fort Hays State Tigers (Central Intercollegiate Conference) (1930–1934)
1930 Fort Hays State 2–5–2 1–4–1 T–5th
1931 Fort Hays State 3–5–1 1–4–1 T–5th
1932 Fort Hays State 4–5 2–4 T–5th
1933 Fort Hays State 6–2–2 3–1–2 2nd
1934 Fort Hays State 6–2–1 4–1 1st
Fort Hays State: 21–19–6 11–14–4
Total: 21–19–6
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Wilbur Riley To Coach Hill Grid Machine". The Mercury (Pottstown, Pennsylvania). September 14, 1935. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c "Big Job to Scott Cityan". The Hutchinson News. March 2, 1943. p. 2. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  3. ^ "Riley Grid Coach At Naval School". Journal & Courier. March 3, 1943. p. 10. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  4. ^ DeLassus, David. "Fort Hays State Coaching Records". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Fort Hays State University Football Media Guide" (PDF). Fort Hays State University. 2016. p. 110. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  6. ^ "Fort Hays State University, Kansas". legendsofkansas.com. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  7. ^ The Dial (The Hill School yearbook), 1954, p. 17.
  8. ^ a b "Wilbur C. Riley". The Philadelphia Inquirer. May 1, 1954. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Wilbur C. Riley, Hill Head Coach, Suffers Heart Attack at Grid Game". The Mercury. November 3, 1952. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ ""Jack" Riley Comes Back, Begins Convalescence in The Hill Infirmary". The Mercury. December 1, 1952. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Wilbur Riley, Former Hill Grid Coach, Dies". The Mercury. May 1, 1954. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
[edit]


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