Riley Wallace

Last updated
Riley Wallace
Biographical details
Born (1941-10-25) October 25, 1941 (age 82)
Alton, Illinois, U.S.
Playing career
1960–1963 Centenary
Position(s) Forward
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1964–1966 Litchfield HS (assistant)
1966–1971Litchfield HS
1971–1976 Centenary (assistant)
1976–1978Centenary
1978–1984 Hawaii (assoc. HC)
1984–1987 Seminole JC
1987–2007Hawaii
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1976–1978 Centenary
Head coaching record
Overall349–262 (NCAA Division I)
68–36 (junior college)
69–59 (high school)
Tournaments0–3 (NCAA Division I)
8–6 (NIT)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3 WAC tournament (1994, 2001, 2002)
WAC regular season (2002)
WAC Pacific division (1997)
Awards
3x WAC Coach of the Year (1989, 1997, 2002)

Robert Riley Wallace (born October 25, 1941) is an American retired basketball coach. He spent most of his career coaching college basketball, and was the head coach of the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors men's team from 1987 through 2007.

Contents

Early life and college playing career

Born in Alton, Illinois, Wallace graduated from Jersey Community High School in Jerseyville, Illinois in 1959. [1] After high school, Wallace attended Centenary College of Louisiana and started at forward all three years on the Centenary Gentlemen varsity basketball team from 1960 to 1963. [1] [2] Wallace led Centenary in field goal percentage with at least 8 attempts per game (.450) as a sophomore in 1960–61 and rebounding (222 n the season, 8.5 per game) as a junior in 1961–62. [3]

Wallace graduated from Centenary in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education. [4] [5]

Coaching career

After graduating from Centenary, Wallace became an assistant basketball coach at Litchfield High School in Litchfield, Illinois under Larry Little. Wallace was also track and field head coach at Litchfield High from 1964 to 1967. [1] In 1966, Wallace became head coach and would lead Litchfield for five seasons with a 69–59 record and the 1970 regional title. [6] Wallace completed a Master of Education degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign College of Education in 1968. [7]

In 1971, Wallace returned to Centenary College to be assistant basketball coach, again under Larry Little. He became head basketball coach and athletic director in 1976, then resigned midway in the 1977–78 season to be associate head coach at Hawaii, again under Little. Wallace remained in this position until 1984. [1]

From 1984 to 1987, Wallace was head coach at Seminole Junior College in Seminole, Oklahoma and left with a 68–36 record, including consecutive 26–10 seasons. [1]

After coaching at Seminole JC, Wallace returned to Hawaii to be head coach. When Wallace took over the program in 1987, it had suffered through four straight losing seasons, including a combined 11–43 mark during the latter two years. He guided Hawaii to nine of its 12 all-time postseason appearances, including a school-record streak of four straight from 2001 to 2004. The Warriors appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times under Wallace and were invited to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) on six occasions. Prior to his arrival, the program had just one NCAA appearance and two trips to the NIT. [1]

Wallace announced his resignation following the end of the 2006–07 season on December 29, 2006. [8]

Head coaching record

College

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Centenary Gentlemen (NCAA Division I Independent)(1976–1978)
1976–77 Centenary 11–19
1977–78 Centenary 4–8*
Centenary:15–27
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (Western Athletic Conference)(1987–2007)
1987–88 Hawaii 4–252–149th
1988–89 Hawaii 17–139–74th NIT first round
1989–90 Hawaii 25–1010–6T–3rd NIT Quarterfinals
1990–91 Hawaii 16–137–9T–5th
1991–92 Hawaii 16–129–7T–4th
1992–93 Hawaii 12–167–11T–7th
1993–94 Hawaii 18–1511–74th NCAA Division I Round of 64
1994–95 Hawaii 16–138–106th
1995–96 Hawaii 10–187–118th
1996–97 Hawaii 21–812–4T–1st (Pacific) NIT second round
1997–98 Hawaii 21–98–64th (Pacific) NIT Quarterfinals
1998–99 Hawaii 6–203–117th (Pacific)
1999–2000 Hawaii 17–125–96th
2000–01 Hawaii 17–148–8T–5th NCAA Division I Round of 64
2001–02 Hawaii 27–615–3T–1st NCAA Division I Round of 64
2002–03 Hawaii 19–129–9T–6th NIT second round
2003–04 Hawaii 21–1211–75th NIT Quarterfinals
2004–05 Hawaii 16–137–117th
2005–06 Hawaii 17–1110–6T–4th
2006–07 Hawaii 18–138–8T–5th
Hawaii:334–265166–164
Total:349–292

      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

*Resigned in January 1978 to become associate head coach at Hawaii.

Junior college

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Seminole (OK) Trojans (Bi-State Conference)(1984–1987)
1984–85Seminole (OK) 26–10 [9]
1985–86Seminole (OK) 26–10 [1]
1986–87Seminole (OK) 16–16
Seminole (OK):68–36
Total:68–36

      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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Riley (American football)</span> American gridiron football player and coach (born 1953)

Michael Joseph Riley is an American football coach who was most recently the head coach of the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League (USFL). He has previously served as the head coach of two college football programs: Oregon State and Nebraska (2015–2017). Riley has also been the head coach of teams in four different professional leagues: the Canadian Football League (CFL), World League of American Football (WLAF), National Football League (NFL), and Alliance of American Football (AAF). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herman Frazier</span> American track and field athlete, college athletics administrator

Herman Ronald "Herm" Frazier is a retired American sprinter. He won gold medals in the 4 × 400 m relay at the 1976 Olympics and 1975 and 1979 Pan American Games. Individually he earned a bronze medal in the 400 m event at the 1976 Olympics. He served as chef de mission of the 2004 U.S. Olympic team and as the Athletic Director at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Hawaii. He currently serves as the senior deputy athletics director at Syracuse University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thad Matta</span> American basketball coach (born 1967)

Thad Michael Matta is an American college basketball coach who is currently in his second stint as head coach of the Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team, having been head coach of the Bulldogs for the 2000–01 season. From 2004 to 2017, Matta led the Ohio State Buckeyes to five Big Ten Conference regular season championships, four Big Ten tournament titles, two Final Four appearances, and the 2008 NIT Championship. He is the winningest coach in Ohio State history.

Richard Alexander Glas is an American basketball coach who was most recently the head men's basketball coach at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. In a coaching career that spanned 1970 to 2017, Glas had various assistant and head coaching positions in college basketball and was head coach at Minnesota Morris from 1974 to 1979, Willamette from 1979 to 1984, North Dakota from 1988 to 2006, and Concordia from 2008 to 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Kennedy</span> American basketball player and coach

Joseph Patrick Kennedy is an American former college basketball coach and player. He was previously the men's basketball coach at Towson University, Iona College, Florida State University, DePaul University, Pace University and the University of Montana. Currently, Kennedy is a senior advisor for the Hoop Group and Be The Beast Recruiting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Hinson</span> American basketball coach

Barry Douglas Hinson is an American college basketball coach and most recently was the head coach of the Southern Illinois Salukis men's basketball team (SIU). He was born in Marlow, Oklahoma. Before SIU he was the Director of Men's Basketball Operations at the University of Kansas, head coach of Missouri State University and head coach of Oral Roberts University. On March 28, 2012, Hinson was announced the head coach of Southern Illinois University's men's basketball team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Arnold (basketball)</span> American college basketball coach (1934–2024)

Frank Harold Arnold was an American college basketball coach. He served as the head basketball coach at Brigham Young University (BYU) from 1975 to 1983 and at the University of Hawaii at Manoa from 1985 to 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tulsa Golden Hurricane men's basketball</span> Mens college basketball team

The Tulsa Golden Hurricane men's basketball team represents the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The team participates in the American Athletic Conference. The Golden Hurricane are led by head coach Eric Konkol, hired from Louisiana Tech on March 21, 2022, to replace Frank Haith who had resigned.

Martin Ray Simmons is an American basketball coach and former player. He is the head men's basketball coach at Eastern Illinois University, a position he has held since 2021. Simmons served as the head men's basketball coach at Wartburg College from 1996 to 1997, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville from 2002 to 2007, and the University of Evansville from 2007 to 2018. As a high school player, Simmons was named Illinois Mr. Basketball in 1983. He played college basketball at Indiana University Bloomington and Evansville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Nash (basketball)</span> American basketball player and coach

Robert Lee Nash is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He played college basketball for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and was the ninth overall pick in the 1972 NBA draft. Nash played six seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Detroit Pistons and Kansas City Kings. He also played in the American Basketball Association with the San Diego Conquistadors and the Continental Basketball Association with the Hawaii Volcanos for one season each.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball</span> University basketball team

The South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Gamecocks won Southern Conference titles in 1927, 1933, 1934, and 1945, and then they gained national attention under hall of fame coach Frank McGuire, posting a 205–65 record from 1967 to 1976, which included the 1970 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship, the 1971 ACC Tournament title, and four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances from 1971 to 1974. The program also won the 1997 SEC championship, National Invitation Tournament (NIT) titles in 2005 and 2006, and a share of the 2009 SEC East division title. Most recently, the Gamecocks won the 2017 NCAA East Regional Championship, reaching the Final Four for the first time in school history. Lamont Paris is the current head coach, and the team plays at the 18,000-seat Colonial Life Arena.

James Daniel Bolla Jr. was an American college basketball coach. He was the head women's basketball coach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas from 1982 to 1996, with his 300 games won the most in the team's history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bradley Braves men's basketball</span> Basketball team that represents Bradley University

The Bradley Braves men's basketball team represents Bradley University, located in Peoria, Illinois, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They compete as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. The Braves are currently coached by Brian Wardle and play their home games at Carver Arena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike White (basketball)</span> American basketball coach (born 1977)

Michael Emerson White is an American college basketball coach and former player. He is the head coach of the University of Georgia men's basketball team. Prior to accepting the job at Georgia, White was the head coach of the Florida Gators from 2015 to 2022 and the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs from 2011 to 2015.

Daniel Paul Muller is an American college basketball coach, formerly the men's basketball head coach at his alma mater Illinois State University.

David Stant is a football coach; currently head coach of the Keio Unicorns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Kerwin</span> American basketball player and coach

Jim Kerwin was an American retired basketball player and college coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002–03 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2002–03 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball team represented the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in the 2002–03 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Rainbow Warriors, led by head coach, Riley Wallace, played their home games at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, as members of the Western Athletic Conference. Hawaii finished in a tie for 6th in the WAC during the regular season and won one game in the WAC tournament before falling in the semifinals to Tulsa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003–04 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2003–04 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball team represented the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in the 2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Rainbow Warriors, led by head coach Riley Wallace, played their home games at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, as members of the Western Athletic Conference. Hawaii finished 5th in the WAC during the regular season, and lost in the first round in the WAC tournament to Rice.

The 1993–94 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball team represented the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in the 1993–94 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Rainbow Warriors, led by head coach Riley Wallace, played their home games at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, as members of the Western Athletic Conference. The Rainbow Warriors finished fourth in the WAC during the regular season, but landed three upset victories in three days during the WAC tournament, finishing with a 73–66 victory over BYU in the championship game.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Riley Wallace". University of Hawaii at Manoa. Archived from the original on June 14, 2006. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  2. ↑ "The Life of Riley". CoachRileyWallace.com. 2008. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  3. ↑ Centenary record book, pp. 17-18.
  4. ↑ Kaneshiro, Jason (February 8, 2005). "Road trip takes UH's Wallace back". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  5. ↑ University of Illinois Board of Trustees Minutes. September 18, 1970. p. 106.
  6. ↑ "Litchfield - Boys Basketball". Illinois High School Association. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  7. ↑ Centenary College of Louisiana Catalogue, 1970-1971, p. 109.
  8. ↑ Kaneshiro, Jason (December 30, 2006). "Wallace makes it official". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  9. ↑ Munn, Scott (December 5, 1985). "Seminole Taller, Off to Faster Start". The Oklahoman. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.