Spring Break
Riley added to Winnipeg HOF
The Daily Barometer
Issue date: 4/13/07 Section: Sports
One of the most successful head coaches in the history of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' organization will be inducted into the Winnipeg Football Club Hall Of Fame in June, the football club announced today.
Former Bomber head coach Mike Riley is the lone inductee into the football club's Hall of Fame for 2007. He will be honoured at this year's Winnipeg Football Club Legacy Dinner, slated for Wednesday, June 13 at Canad Inns-Polo Park.
"I am very appreciative of the Winnipeg Football Club and this induction into their Hall of Fame," Riley said. "This is very special for our entire family and we are looking forward to coming to Winnipeg and being part of this event. The city of Winnipeg and the Blue Bombers have meant a great deal to us and I am very proud of the time that we lived in the city and were part of the football organization."
Riley first joined the Bombers as the team's secondary coach in 1983 and spent three seasons in that capacity with the football club.
Following a one-year stint at University of Northern Colorado as the Bears' defensive coordinator, Riley returned to the Blue Bombers as the team's head coach. In his four seasons (1987-90) as the Blue & Gold's head coach the team compiled a 40-32 regular season record. He still ranks as the fifth winningest head coach in team history.
Riley helped shape the careers of a number of CFL All-Stars including Tom Clements, Scott Flagel, Ken Hailey, Willard Reaves, Perry Tuttle, Chris Walby, Tyrone Jones, James West and James Murphy.
The crowning achievement of his tenure with the Bombers was leading the team to Grey Cup wins in 1988 and again in '90.
Riley began his CFL coaching career as a guest coach with the Edmonton Eskimos in the early-1980s, where he got to know then Eskimos assistant coach Cal Murphy. Murphy was subsequently hired as head coach of the Blue Bombers and hired Riley as an assistant on his staff.
Riley already had a connection with the Blue Bombers franchise before then. His father, Bud, coached the team from 1974 until 1977. The elder Riley compiled a 34-28-2 record during his tenure with the club.
Former Bomber head coach Mike Riley is the lone inductee into the football club's Hall of Fame for 2007. He will be honoured at this year's Winnipeg Football Club Legacy Dinner, slated for Wednesday, June 13 at Canad Inns-Polo Park.
"I am very appreciative of the Winnipeg Football Club and this induction into their Hall of Fame," Riley said. "This is very special for our entire family and we are looking forward to coming to Winnipeg and being part of this event. The city of Winnipeg and the Blue Bombers have meant a great deal to us and I am very proud of the time that we lived in the city and were part of the football organization."
Riley first joined the Bombers as the team's secondary coach in 1983 and spent three seasons in that capacity with the football club.
Following a one-year stint at University of Northern Colorado as the Bears' defensive coordinator, Riley returned to the Blue Bombers as the team's head coach. In his four seasons (1987-90) as the Blue & Gold's head coach the team compiled a 40-32 regular season record. He still ranks as the fifth winningest head coach in team history.
Riley helped shape the careers of a number of CFL All-Stars including Tom Clements, Scott Flagel, Ken Hailey, Willard Reaves, Perry Tuttle, Chris Walby, Tyrone Jones, James West and James Murphy.
The crowning achievement of his tenure with the Bombers was leading the team to Grey Cup wins in 1988 and again in '90.
Riley began his CFL coaching career as a guest coach with the Edmonton Eskimos in the early-1980s, where he got to know then Eskimos assistant coach Cal Murphy. Murphy was subsequently hired as head coach of the Blue Bombers and hired Riley as an assistant on his staff.
Riley already had a connection with the Blue Bombers franchise before then. His father, Bud, coached the team from 1974 until 1977. The elder Riley compiled a 34-28-2 record during his tenure with the club.
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