FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 18, 2008

MARCUS REILLY NAMED HEAD WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACH AT RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE

Providence, RI—Rhode Island College has named Marcus Reilly as its new Head Women’s Basketball Coach. Reilly takes over for Spencer Manning, who guided the Anchorwomen over the previous five seasons.

Reilly joins the RIC staff after spending two separate stints guiding the Community College of Rhode Island Lady Knights, compiling a 77-35 record in four years at the helm.

 "I truly am excited to become a part of one of the most proactive Div. III athletic departments in the country," Reilly said. "Along with my family and my student-athletes, I look forward to becoming a positive and active member of the Rhode Island College community."

Rhode Island College Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Donald E. Tencher said, "We expect great things from Marcus and we feel he is an outstanding coach who is capable of taking the program to the next level." 

In 2007-08, Reilly led CCRI to a 26-8 overall record and captured his second straight, and the program’s fifth consecutive, New England Championship. The Lady Knights advanced to the National Tournament for the second straight season earning a victory over Garrett, 67-66, in overtime, before bowing out with losses to Kirkwood, 69-58, and Carl Sandburg, 61-52.

During 2006-07, Reilly put together a very strong roster by gelling nine newcomers with five returning players. He guided the team to his first, and the program’s fourth straight, New England Championship and posted a 19-11 record. The Lady Knights beat Dean College, 94-67, in the championship game.  CCRI followed that up with a convincing 22-point, 86-64, victory over Union County Community College in the Northeast District Championship. With the District Championship win, the Lady Knights represented the Northeast in the National Tournament in Arizona where they reached the Elite Eight. For his efforts, Words Unlimited, Rhode Island’s statewide organization of sports writers, sportscasters and sports publicists, named him the Female Sports Co-Coach of the Year.

Reilly served as top Assistant and Recruiting Coordinator for Jacksonville State University from 2003-2006. While at Jacksonville, Reilly helped guide the Gamecocks to their first-ever trip to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Final Four and their highest Division I win total of 18 victories. Reilly directed skill workouts for all red-shirts and post players.  In the 2003-04 season, Reilly, as the Director of Scouting, helped guide the Gamecocks in their first-ever victory over a Conference USA opponent—UAB--and first-ever SEC victory over Auburn.

Reilly’s first stint as CCRI’s Head Women’s Basketball Coach was from 2001-03, where he led the Knights to a 32-16 record. Reilly’s successes included recruiting the first CCRI class of women’s basketball players to reach the NJCAA Final Four. Included in that class were Lady Knights’ all-time leading scorer Amanda Ward and Jeanell Hughes, the CCRI single-season scoring leader.

Player development and transitioning players to the next level has always been at the core of Coach Reilly's programs. His former players and signees have gone on to play in the Big East, America East, MAAC, Ohio Valley, MEAC, Colonial Athletic Association, Northeast-10, Sunshine State and Little East Conferences.

Before joining the college ranks, he coached Cranston High School West from 1999-2001 to a 24-17 record where he led them to their first and only R.I. State Tournament Championship Game as Division I Central Champions. Five players from that team moved on to play college basketball at scholarship levels. He also mentored the Gatorade Player of the Year. During that time, he also served as Head Coach of the R.I. Breakers AAU basketball team, which placed in the top 30 at the U.S. Junior National Tournament and eight of those players accepted NCAA Scholarships.

He earned a bachelor's degree in public policy from Trinity College, where he played four seasons of basketball for the Bantams, in 1999. 

Reilly, a Cranston native who attended Cranston West, resides in Cranston, Rhode Island with his wife Lindsey and son Owen (2).