Bill Riga

Last updated

Bill Riga
Holy Cross hockey coach Bill Riga.jpg
Current position
TitleHead coach
Team Holy Cross
Conference AHA
Biographical details
Born (1974-05-26) May 26, 1974 (age 50)
Westborough, MA, US
Alma mater University of Massachusetts Lowell
Playing career
1992–1996 Massachusetts–Lowell
1996–1997 El Paso Buzzards
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1996–2003 Boston Junior Bruins (assistant)
2003–2008 Union (assistant)
2008–2021 Quinnipiac (associate)
2021–present Holy Cross
Head coaching record
Overall74–72–11 (.506)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
  • AHA regular season (2025)
Awards

William Riga is the current head coach for Holy Cross Crusaders men's ice hockey. Previously he was an associate head coach at Quinnipiac and helped the team reach the National Championship game in 2013 and 2016. [1]

Contents

Career

Riga began his college career in 1992 after graduating from St. Mark's School. After playing just two games as a freshman, he became a fixture on the team a depth scorer for the next three seasons. In that time he helped the team reach the NCAA Tournament twice, making the national quarterfinals on both occasions. After graduating, Riga briefly played as a professional, retiring after just 7 games and immediately turning to coach.

Riga's first job was for the Boston Junior Bruins as both the team's assistant coach and director of recruitment. He spent most of seven seasons with the team before returning to the college ranks as an assistant under new head coach Nate Leaman at Union. He remained with the Dutchmen for five years before taking the same position at Quinnipiac. Riga became the team's primary recruiter in 2012 and the Bobcats jumped from the middle of ECAC Hockey straight to the top. That year Quinnipiac won 30 games for the first time and reached the national championship game where they were defeated by in-state rival Yale. [2] Over the course of the succeeding seven seasons, Quinnipiac remained one of the top programs in the country, finishing atop their conference four times and making five further NCAA tournament appearances.

After the resignation of David Berard in 2021, Holy Cross hired Riga as the program's 7th head coach. [3]

Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1991–92 St. Mark's School US-Prep
1992–93 Massachusetts–Lowell Hockey East 20110
1993–94 Massachusetts–Lowell Hockey East 2635812
1994–95 Massachusetts–Lowell Hockey East 3254910
1995–96 Massachusetts–Lowell Hockey East 35481212
1996–97 El Paso Buzzards WPHL 71120
NCAA totals9512183034

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Holy Cross Crusaders (Atlantic Hockey)(2021–2024)
2021–22 Holy Cross 12–23–2 (.351)10–14–2 (.423)10th Atlantic Hockey First Round
2022–23 Holy Cross 17–21–3 (.451)12–12–2 (.500)7th Atlantic Hockey Runner-Up
2023–24 Holy Cross 21–14–4 (.590)13–10–3 (.558)2nd Atlantic Hockey Semifinals
Holy Cross:50–58–9 (.466)35–36–7 (.494)
Holy Cross Crusaders (AHA)(2024–present)
2024–25 Holy Cross 24–14–2 (.625)19–5–2 (.769)1st AHA Runner-up
Holy Cross:24–14–2 (.625)19–5–2 (.769)
Total:74–72–11 (.506)

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. "Bill Riga". Quinnipiac Bobcats. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  2. "Saturday, April 13, 2013". College Hockey Stats. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  3. "Holy Cross names Bill Riga head men's ice hockey coach". Holy Cross Crusaders. May 4, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Inaugural
Atlantic Hockey America Coach of the Year
2024–25
Succeeded by
Incumbent