FAIRFIELD, Conn. (September 6, 2024) – Head coach C.J. Marottolo and the Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team have filled out their staff for the 2024-25 season, with the addition of Mickey Riley as Director of Hockey Operations. Riley, part of the distinguished Riley hockey family, joins the Pioneers after two years in the same position with the women's ice hockey program at Harvard.
 
While at Harvard, Riley coordinated all aspects of team travel for the Crimson, in addition to managing game and practice filming operations, plus organizing various other team events. He will handle many similar duties with SHU.
 
"We are happy to welcome Mickey to our hockey team," said Marottolo. "He comes highly recommended, and I know our players will benefit from his passion. He will help our guys have the best possible experience while being a Sacred Heart student-athlete."
 
Prior to his stint at Harvard, Riley was a four-year student manager with the men's ice hockey program at the University of Connecticut as an undergraduate. As a senior, he received the team's Coach John Chapman Award, "given to the member of the program who has demonstrated what it means to be a leader." Riley was the first manager in program history to receive the award, which is typically presented to a student-athlete. He is a 2020 graduate of UConn, with a degree in communications.
 
"I would like to thank coach Marottolo and the coaching staff for the opportunity to be a part of the Sacred Heart men's hockey program," said Riley. "I'm very excited for the upcoming season and look forward to helping the team be successful in any way I can."
 
Riley is part of the youngest generation of the storied Riley hockey family. He is the grandson of the legendary Jack Riley, who coached Team USA to the gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics, coached the men's ice hockey team at Army for more than 30 years (1950-86), and has been inducted into the US Hockey (1979), IIHF (1998) and Army Sports (2004) Halls of Fame.
 
The head coaching position at Army has been in the Riley family since 1950, as Jack's sons – Mickey's uncles – Rob (1988-04) and Brian (2004-present) have both held the head role at West Point as well. Mickey's father, Jay, played collegiately at Harvard in the early 1970s. His brother, Jack, totaled 33 points (18-15-33) across three seasons at UMass Boston (2017-20).
 
SHU opens its 32^nd season of varsity competition in just over a month, when it visits ECAC member Colgate for a two-game series on Oct. 11-12.