Former Army West Point hockey head coach Brian Riley was named the 2026 American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) John "Snooks" Kelley Founders Award recipient as the major awards were announced by the AHCA on Monday.

According to the AHCA, named after the famed Boston College coach, the award honors those in the coaching profession who have contributed to the overall growth and development of the sport of ice hockey in the United States.

"Coach Riley and the Riley family have been an incredible influence on the history and success of the Army Hockey program both on and off the ice," commented Director of Athletics Tom Theodorakis. "His commitment to developing the cadet-athletes that came through the program into leaders of character embodies the perpetual mission of the Army West Point Athletic Department and we are proud to have that commitment recognized by the American Hockey Coaches Association with this award."

Brian Riley retired at the end of the 2024-25 season after serving at the Black Knights' head coach for 21 seasons. His retirement capped off 75 seasons of Riley leadership at the helm of the Black Knights.

"There is no one more deserving of the John 'Snooks' Kelley Founders Award than Brian Riley," said Army hockey head coach Zach McKelvie. "Coach Riley dedicated his career to developing young men at West Point who would go on to serve as leaders of character. Beyond the rink, he has been a mentor and friend to so many, and the lessons he's shared extend far beyond the game. His impact on hockey — and on the people in it — will be felt for generations."

A four-time Atlantic Hockey Association Coach of the Year – more than any other coach in the conference's history – Riley also led the program to its first regular season championship in program history.

Aside from his standard coaching responsibilities, Riley served as the President of the American Hockey Coaches Association from 2014-17. He also served on the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Committee from 2013-18, which is responsible for the management of the NCAA Championship.

Riley has coached an AHA Player of the Year, an AHA Goalie of the Year, multiple AHA Rookie of the Years and two AHA Best Defenseman. Eleven of his players have been First Team Atlantic Hockey All-Conference, 13 were named to the second team and three to the Third Team. Riley has also mentored 14 to the All-Rookie Team and four who received the Atlantic Hockey Sportsmanship Award.

In his first campaign behind the Black Knights' bench, Riley earned his first career win when Army stunned Colgate, 3-2, in Hamilton, N.Y. Riley led his team to 11 wins during that initial season, setting the Academy record for most victories by a rookie head coach. He broke the record established by his brother, Rob, in 1986-87. In addition, the younger Riley also piloted the Black Knights to their first postseason win in more than a quarter century when Army defeated American International College, 5-3, in the first round of the Atlantic Hockey tournament. Riley reached 100 wins at Tate Rink on November 30, 2018 with a 5-4 win over Canisius.

Riley's brother, Rob, took the reins from his father in the fall of 1986 and racked up 306 victories of his own over 18 winters. When Rob officially stepped down in the summer of 2004, he passed the torch (and family tradition) on to his younger brother. In his 21 seasons at West Point, Riley won 258 games, giving the Rileys 1,106 wins in just over seven decades of coaching at Army.

Riley recruited Zach McKelvie, a defenseman who was signed by the Boston Bruins organization after his senior season in 2009. He then served two years of active duty as an Infantry Officer before officially starting his professional career in the Calgary Flames organization in 2011. McKelvie is now in his first year as Riley's successor.

A 1983 graduate of Brown, Riley began his coaching career in 1984 with a three-year stint as an assistant coach at SUNY Plattsburgh. During that period, the Cardinals advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament three times, reaching the championship game twice. In 1988, Riley moved to the Division I ranks at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. There, he teamed with his cousin, Bill Riley, for one season, directing the River Hawks to the NCAA Tournament, giving him his fourth straight postseason appearance.

The following winter, Riley joined his brother's staff at West Point for the first time where he spent the next seven seasons. In 1996, the West Point native left the comfort and familiarity of the Academy, where he grew up, for the great Midwest and a head coaching position at Shattuck St. Mary's Prep School in Faribault, MN. There, Riley carved out a stellar two-year coaching career in which his teams compiled an impressive 94-19-10 record. In 1999, Riley returned to West Point, where he served at his brother's side until assuming the head coaching position in 2004.

During his collegiate playing days, Riley co-captained Brown's hockey squad his senior season, earning honorable mention All-Ivy League. He was presented the Class of '36 Trophy for his outstanding contributions over his four-year career and the Patrick Jones Trophy for most team spirit. Prior to starring at Brown, Riley attended New Hampton Prep and led the hockey team to a No. 1 national ranking among prep schools. He was chosen as the school's most outstanding athlete while captaining both the soccer and hockey teams. Riley completed course work on his master's, earning a graduate degree in Education from Boston University, in May 2003.

Riley is married to the former Marybeth Feldman of Highland Falls, NY. The couple has three children: Jack, Danielle and Brendan. Brendan is now head coach at Long Island University while Jack serves as an assistant coach to McKelvie at West Point.