John P. Riley, Jr.

Who is John P. Riley, Jr.?

John Patrick "Jack" Riley is an American former ice hockey player and coach. The hockey coach at West Point for more than 35 years, Riley coached the United States to the gold medal at the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics. He played for the U.S. Olympic team at the 1948 St. Moritz Olympics.

A native of Medford, Massachusetts, Riley played prep-school hockey at Tabor Academy and was graduated in 1939. He played college hockey at Dartmouth College as well as for the U.S. Naval Air Corps. In 1948 he was part of an American team that was disqualified as two rival teams arrived for the Americans at the St. Moritz Olympics.. He was then player-coach of the national team at the 1949 IIHF World Championship.

Riley began his Army coaching career in 1950, remaining the Cadets' head coach through 1986. During his tenure, he twice won the Spencer Penrose Award for NCAA Coach of the Year. He was replaced by one of his sons, Rob Riley in 1986. Another son, Brian Riley, took over the job from Rob in 2004.

Riley's Americans surprised the hockey world going undefeated in winning the country's first Olympic gold medal and second ever.