Former Bryant assistant brings NEC background to coach Trisha Brown's staff
EASTON, Mass. (June 8, 2023) – Stonehill College women's basketball head coach Trisha Brown has added Marcus Reilly to her coaching staff ahead of the 2023-24 season as the Skyhawks continue their transition to NCAA Division I status as members of the Northeast Conference.
"We are thrilled to welcome Marcus Reilly to the Stonehill women's basketball family," said Brown. "Marcus brings tremendous experience and phenomenal energy to our program. He is an outstanding recruiter, which he has proven at every level. As a member of the Bryant women's basketball staff, he has been a part of the Northeast Conference, so he knows the league and what it takes to win."
Reilly joins the coaching staff at Stonehill following four seasons as an assistant coach at Bryant University under longtime head coach Mary Burke, who recently stepped down after 32 seasons leading the Bulldogs. He was director of scouting for Bryant, helping develop the program into an NEC contender prior to making the move to America East Conference this past winter, as the Bulldogs made a charge to the 2022 NEC Championship game with upsets of the top two seeds in the tournament. Reilly implemented recruiting plans that stretched into Eastern Europe and produced five starters and two All-Conference selections. His comprehensive guard development plan yielded Bryant's top two three-point shooters in program history.
Prior to his time at Bryant, Reilly served eight seasons as assistant, associate and interim head coach at the University of Rhode Island as a member of Cathy Inglese and Daynia La-Force's coaching staffs in the Atlantic-10 Conference. As recruiting coordinator, he signed multiple recruiting classes that produced six student-athletes that went on to enjoy professional careers. Reilly also led the Rams scouting efforts for its A-10 and Power 5 non-conference schedule, while also working in post player development mentoring an A-10 Most Improved Player of the Year and All-A10 first team performer.
Reilly brings 15 years of Division I coaching experience and nearly 200 career wins as a head coach to Stonehill, spending the last four seasons with longtime coach Mary Burke (right) at Bryant, a former NEC member. (PHOTO COURTESY Bryant University) |
Reilly has recorded a career head coaching record of 171-87 (.663) at the collegiate and high school levels, earning several coaching accolades in that time. He served four years as head coach at Rhode Island College from 2008-12, posting a record of 71-37 (.657), marking the most wins and highest winning percentage over a four-year span in program history. The Anchorwomen enjoyed a 25-4 season in 2011-12 to capture the Little East Conference regular season and tournament championships on its way to an NCAA Division III Tournament berth, hosting an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in school history. The 2012 New England Women's Basketball Division III and Little East Coach of the Year developed seven All-LEC players, as well as an LEC Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year.
Prior to Rhode Island College, Reilly guided the Community College of Rhode Island to a 76-33 record over four seasons between two stints, including a pair of NJCAA National Tournament "Elite Eight" appearances with back-to-back regional and district championships in 2007 and 2008. He is a three-time NJCAA Northeast District Coach of the Year (2008, 2007, 2003) and received the WBCA JC/CC New England Coach of the Year honors in 2003.
Reilly served three years as an assistant coach at Jacksonville State University of the Ohio Valley Conference, helping the Gamecocks to their first OVC Tournament semifinal appearance and the highest win total in their NCAA Division I era during the 2003-04 season. He first showed his ability to recruit and scout at the Division I level by signing three adidas All-Americans and an OVC Rookie of the Year, while leading the program's first upset wins against Auburn University (SEC) and Alabama-Birmingham (Conference USA). Reilly also enjoyed two successful seasons as head coach at Cranston (R.I.) High School West, leading the girls' basketball program to the 2001 Division 1 Central Championship in the program's first and only State championship appearance. He was named Rhode Island High School Coach of the Year and Division I Central Coach of the Year for his efforts in 2001.
Reilly is a 1999 graduate of Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, earning his Bachelor of Arts in public policy and was a member of the Bantam's men's basketball program that made a run to the NCAA Division III Elite Eight and received the John Kelly Varsity Basketball Team Leadership Award.
Stonehill closed out its inaugural NCAA Division I season with a 9-20 record overall, including 5-11 in its first NEC season to finish seventh in the Conference's regular season standings after being picked ninth by the league's head coaches in the NEC preseason poll. The Skyhawks earned the NEC Sportsmanship Award and notched a win in their NEC debut at Central Connecticut State University (73-66) on January 2 and completed a regular season series sweep of the Blue Devils – its first as an NEC member. Stonehill also logged non-conference wins at University of New Hampshire and Bryant as well as University of Hartford and NEC wins against LIU, St. Francis Brooklyn and Wagner College, finishing the year winners of three of their last five. Recent graduate Emily Bramanti earned All-NEC first team accolades.
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