Spring Break
Riley added to Winnipeg HOF
The Daily Barometer
Issue date: 4/13/07 Section: Sports
What is important to remember is that Mike's first opportunity as a head coach at the pro level came with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and he really excelled once given the opportunity," said dinner chairman and former Bomber player Joe Poplawski. "He really restored and re-established the pride in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by helping lead the team to two Grey Cups.
"The one story I remember about Mike is when a young defensive back wound up fumbling the ball and the other team scored a touchdown as a result. The defensive backs coach said to Mike 'Do you want me to tear a strip off him?' Mike said there was no need to do that and that he knew he made a mistake. That was the type of individual Mike was. He got to know his players and respected them as men and as individuals."
Riley has also had a distinguished coaching career south of the border. He is currently the head coach of the Oregon State University football program. In the six years he has guided the Beavers to some of their most exciting campaigns.
Riley's 2006 team became only the second club in OSU history to win at least 10 games in a season, including wins over No. 3-ranked USC, No. 24 Hawaii and Oregon. He is also the first OSU coach to win more than one NCAA-sanctioned bowl game in school history, capturing the 2003 Las Vegas Bowl, the 2004 Insight Bowl and 2006 Sun Bowl titles. He also served as the Beavers head coach between 1997 and '98.
As an assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Southern California from 1993 until '96, Riley helped groom the likes of future NFLers in quarterback Rob Johnson, wide receivers Keyshawn Johnson and Johnnie Morton and offensive lineman Tony Boselli.
In 1999 he graduated to the NFL himself when he was hired as head coach of the San Diego Chargers. He spent four years in the NFL, including a stint as an assistant coach with the New Orleans Saints, before returning to Oregon State.
"The one story I remember about Mike is when a young defensive back wound up fumbling the ball and the other team scored a touchdown as a result. The defensive backs coach said to Mike 'Do you want me to tear a strip off him?' Mike said there was no need to do that and that he knew he made a mistake. That was the type of individual Mike was. He got to know his players and respected them as men and as individuals."
Riley has also had a distinguished coaching career south of the border. He is currently the head coach of the Oregon State University football program. In the six years he has guided the Beavers to some of their most exciting campaigns.
Riley's 2006 team became only the second club in OSU history to win at least 10 games in a season, including wins over No. 3-ranked USC, No. 24 Hawaii and Oregon. He is also the first OSU coach to win more than one NCAA-sanctioned bowl game in school history, capturing the 2003 Las Vegas Bowl, the 2004 Insight Bowl and 2006 Sun Bowl titles. He also served as the Beavers head coach between 1997 and '98.
As an assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Southern California from 1993 until '96, Riley helped groom the likes of future NFLers in quarterback Rob Johnson, wide receivers Keyshawn Johnson and Johnnie Morton and offensive lineman Tony Boselli.
In 1999 he graduated to the NFL himself when he was hired as head coach of the San Diego Chargers. He spent four years in the NFL, including a stint as an assistant coach with the New Orleans Saints, before returning to Oregon State.
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