MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama head men's basketball coach Richie Riley has been recognized by ESPN.com to be among the top young coaches across the country when he was included on the organization's "40 Under 40" list announced on Wednesday.
Riley, who just completed his second season leading the Jaguars, was No. 16 on the list, which was comprised of the top 40 head and assistant coaches in college basketball who were under 40 years old as of April 30, 2020. The final list — which attempts to rank coaches according to both achievements and potential — features a diverse collection of elite young coaches from all 32 NCAA Division I conferences.
He guided South to a 20-11 overall mark during the 2019-20 campaign, the first time the program has recorded 20-wins since 2008-09, after the Jags ended the regular season with eight straight victories; that was the team's longest win streak entering postseason play dating back to the winter of 1980. USA finished 13-7 in the Sun Belt Conference, securing the second seed at the league tournament which was cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic before the Jaguars could play a game in the event.
Riley has a 37-28 record in two seasons leading the Jags and an overall mark of 72-56 in four years as a head coach.
He was a finalist for the Ben Jobe Award — presented annually to the top NCAA Division I minority coach by CollegeInsider.com — at the end of the 2019-20 campaign, while during the regular season he was selected the HoopDirt.com National Coach of the Week after helping South to a pair of victories over Louisiana and ULM.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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