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men's basketball
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head coach john t. reilly
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Head Coach John T. Reilly
Reilly begins his third season
as the head coach at Gannon University.
Gannon President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D., introduced the former assistant
as the school’s head men’s basketball coach May 16, 2005 during a press conference
in Old Main’s Boardroom. Reilly became the 18th men’s basketball coach in
school history.
Reilly showed the ability to keep his team motivated during his first season,
despite arriving at Gannon after the recruiting season had concluded. The
2005-06 Golden Knights’ first signature victory was a 57-50 win over Quincy
(Ill.) in the Porreco Cup Championship. The Hawks eventually qualified for
the NCAA Tournament and knocked off GLIAC power Findlay in the first round.
Gannon posted victories against traditional GLIAC powers such as Michigan
Tech, Northwood, and Ashland. The overtime victory against Ashland in mid-February
most likely knocked the Eagles out of NCAA Tournament contention.
Reilly’s first season concluded with a stunning, come-from-behind victory
over cross-town rival Mercyhurst. The Golden Knights erased a 13-point halftime
deficit and rallied for a 57-54 victory before a standing-room-only crowd
in the season finale, costing Mercyhurst a home GLIAC post-season game.
Reilly’s grit-and-desire attitude was reflected in his 2005-06 team. The
Golden Knights led the GLIAC in rebounding offense (38.8), rebounding defense
(27.5), and rebounding margin (11.3). The squad was also among the league’s
top five in scoring defense (64.9).
Gannon became known nationally for its stingy defense and determination on
the glass. The Golden Knights led the country in rebounding margin, while
ranking 35th in scoring defense.
Reilly’s 2006-07 squad posted a 9-17 record, but never quit down the stretch.
The Golden Knights went 3-3 during the last six games of a tough campaign,
including victories over Hillsdale and Ashland. The Golden Knights swept
the season series from Ashland, a GLIAC post-season participant.
Prior to his arrival at Gannon, Reilly spent 12 seasons as the head coach
at Brescia University, a Catholic university in Owensboro, Kentucky. He served
in a dual capacity during the last nine years, serving also as the school’s
Director of Athletics.
“As an alumnus
and former assistant coach here, Coach Reilly understands Gannon’s high standards
of academic and athletic excellence for its student-athletes and also its
Catholic mission,” said Garibaldi upon his hiring. “I am confident that he
will maintain those traditions on and off the court.”
Reilly compiled a 232-145 record at Brescia. The Bearcats posted winning
records in 10 of his 12 seasons, including each of the last nine. The NAIA
Division I program recorded five 20-win seasons and averaged 19.3 victories
under Reilly’s tutelage. Prior to his hiring in 1993, Brescia had failed
to attain a winning record in any of the program’s first 12 years of existence.
The 44-year-old coach took Brescia to the apex of NAIA collegiate basketball
with back-to-back appearances in the NAIA National Tournament during his
last two seasons. The Bearcats dropped an 80-76 overtime decision to nationally-ranked
Oklahoma Christian in the first round of the 2005 tournament.
“It is a tremendous honor to return to the institution where I received my
master’s degree and began my coaching career,” said Reilly. “Gannon is one
of the premier NCAA Division II jobs in the country and I am extremely excited
about the opportunity to continue one of the best traditions in college basketball.
“Gannon has a strong tradition of great student-athletes, on and off the
court, and my goal is to continue that tradition.”
Reilly’s Brescia teams were built around aggressive defense and rebounding.
The Bearcats ranked fourth nationally in team defense during the 1999-00
campaign and seventh in 2000-01. The Cats led the country in rebounding margin
during the 2000-01 season.
Brescia players earned All-America honors 14 times under Reilly. The amazing
fact is that no Bearcat had ever achieved All-America status prior to Reilly’s
arrival. He has coached 11 All-Americans and three Academic All-Americans.
In 2005, Demontae Foots was named to the All-America first team and Dane
Russell earned Academic All-America accolades.
Reilly began his coaching career at Gannon, serving on the staff for six
years (1987-93). He was a graduate assistant for two seasons under Tom Chapman
before accepting a full-time assistant coaching position in 1989-90. All
four seasons as a full-time assistant came under Bob Dukiet. Reilly helped
coach Gannon to two NCAA Division II East Region Championships and a 128-51
record during his six years at Gannon.
In his first campaign (1987-88) at Gannon, the Golden Knights posted a 24-8
record and advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. Gannon came back
to record its sixth consecutive 20-win season the following year, going 21-9.
The Knights advanced to the Elite Eight in 1989-90 for the third time in
four seasons, finishing 24-8. Reilly finished his stay at Gannon with a 17-13
record in 1990-91, 22-6 in 1991-92, and 20-7 in 1992-93. Overall, the Golden
Knights reached 20 wins in five of six seasons and averaged 21.3 victories
with Reilly on the bench.
A native of Bowie, Md., Reilly played basketball at Bowie High School, where
he earned All-Prince Georges County honors. He also played on the collegiate
level at Bowie State University, where he was a two-year starter.
Reilly graduated from Bowie State in 1986 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology.
He earned his Master’s of Science degree from Gannon in the spring of 1989.
Reilly and his wife, Donna MacAskill, have one daughter, Kirsten (11).
Gannon University~University Square ~ Erie, PA 16541-0001
Toll
Free: 1-800-GANNON-U
Sports Press Box E-mail
updated
11/23/07 by: drt
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