April 1, 2025

New Ferris State hockey coach Brett Riley a finalist for Coach of the Year for his work at Long Island University

New Ferris State University hockey head coach Brett Riley is a finalist for the Spencer Penrose Award, given annually to the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Coach of the Year, for his work at Long Island University.

Riley was honored this year as the NCAA Independent Coach of the Year winner and is now a national finalist for the prestigious award given to the top college hockey coach in the country.

The award is selected by the nation's 64 NCAA Division I head coaches and presented by CCM and the American Hockey Coaches Association. The winner will be announced on April 8.

Riley, who has served as the head coach at NCAA Division I Long Island University since 2020, follows legendary head coach Bob Daniels, who retired this year following 33 seasons at the Bulldog helm.

A third-generation hockey coach with a proven track record of leadership and passion for developing young talent, Riley led Long Island to the Sharks' winningest season in program history this past campaign, finishing the 2024-25 season with a 20-12-2 overall record while compiling the nation's best home mark with a 14-1 record at the Norewell Health Ice Center.

The nominees represent any coach who won or shared Coach of the Year honors in his conference this past season, as well as coaches whose teams have advanced to the 2025 NCAA Frozen Four. None of this year's finalists are past recipients of this award.

The Spencer Penrose Award is named in memory of the Colorado Springs benefactor who built the Broadmoor Hotel Complex, site of the first 10 NCAA championship hockey tournaments. The award will be presented on Sunday, May 4, at the 2025 AHCA Convention at the Hyatt Coconut Point Resort in Bonita Springs, FL.

The CCM AHCA Coach of the Year Awards are sponsored by CCM Hockey and chosen by members of the AHCA. CCM is the hockey brand dedicated to the pursuit of performance by delivering game-changing, head-to-toe innovative hockey equipment to players worldwide.

Other 2024-25 AHCA Men's Ice Hockey Spencer Penrose Award finalists are David Carle, University of Denver; Mike Cavanaugh, University of Connecticut, Hockey East Coach of the Year; Pat Ferschweiler, Western Michigan University, NCHC Coach of the Year; Guy Gadowsky, Penn State University; JF Houle, Clarkson University, ECAC Coach of the Year; Jay Pandolfo, Boston University;  Bill Riga, Holy Cross University, AHA Coach of the Year; Steve Rohlik, Ohio State University, Big Ten Coach of the Year; and Luke Strand, Minnesota State University, CCHA Coach of the Year.