Courtesy Wesleyan Sports Information

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - Joe Reilly, faculty head coach of men's basketball at Bates for the last 11 seasons, has been chosen as faculty head coach of men's basketball at Wesleyan after a national search, athletics director John Biddiscombe announced Wednesday. Reilly steps into the permanent position at the helm of the Cardinals' program after Jay Johnson handled the reins as interim head coach for the 2007-08 season. Johnson had filled the void left due to the resignation of 11-year head coach Gerry McDowell in June, 2007.

Reilly returns to his home state after building the Bates program into one of the strongest in the NESCAC. After inheriting an 8-16 squad in 1997-98, Reilly fashioned eight straight winning seasons with the Bobcats beginning in 2000-01, a team first, including a record 20-6 campaign in 2005-06 which included a team-record 16-game win streak. Reily was recognized at NESCAC Coach of the Year following the 2005-06 season. His 19-8 squad of 2004-05 earned a spot in the NESCAC Men's Basketball Championship title game. Over his 11-year head coaching career at Bates, Reilly compiled a cumulative mark of 154-121 and was 6-5 vs. Wesleyan. Over the last six seasons, Reilly carried the Bobcats to a .701 winning percentage with a 108-46 record and was the Maine State Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year three times and the New England Basketball Hall of Fame Division III Coach of the Year in 2003-04.

Part of a rich basketball coaching family, Reilly, a native of Connecticut, is the son of legendary high school mentor Joe Reilly Sr., who won more than 500 games while guiding South Catholic High School. His uncle Gene Reilly had similar success at Portland High School while his brother Luke is well-respective for his current efforts at East Catholic High School.

Reilly is a 1991 graduate of Trinity College in Hartford, also a member of the NESCAC, where he was a team captain for two seasons and scored more than 1,000 career points. His first college coaching assignment came at Yale University in 1994, where he served as an assistant for three years before arriving at Bates. Between Trinity and Yale, Reilly earned an MBA from the University of Rhode Island. There he worked in the athletics department as a graduate assistant involved primarily with recreational sports.

“Coach Reilly brings a wealth of NESCAC experience both as a player and very successful coach to Wesleyan’s basketball program," stated Biddiscombe. "His experience will enable him to make an immediate positive impact on our team.”

"I had a great 11 years at Bates but it will be wonderful moving back closer to my roots and family in Connecticut," said Reilly. "This is an exciting time to be associated with the Wesleyan athletic program with a tremendous new facility and a new president in place. I love the NESCAC and its great student-athletes. I hope to be able to build a program at Wesleyan that the university, alums, and community can be proud of."

Reilly's appointment is effective on July 1, 2008.