'I can help here to make progress': college hockey news

March 31, 2025



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Through Tyler Kuehl/Chn Reporter (@Tjku29))

(Photo: Sandy Gholston/Ferris State Athletics)

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Giant state

Big Rapids, Mich. – For more than three decades, people around Big Rapids were used to three things: bitter cold winters, students who sniff through the streets and Bob Daniels stood behind the Ferris State bank.

That will change in the coming fall.

On Monday, Ferris State formally introduced Brett Riley as the sixth head coach in the history of the program and took over the position that Daniels held 33 seasons.

Riley arrives in West -Michigan after he has built up the program at Long Island University for the past five years. The son of former army bank boss Rob Riley, and cousin of the recently retired Brian Riley, helped to start the program in 2020 in the midst of strange circumstances and took the sharks of a three-win team to a program record 20 victories this last year.

The Riley team had an impressive 14-1 record in Home Ice in 2024-25, the best home record in the country, and was named Coach of the Year under independent programs.

During a press conference Monday, Ferris State Athletic Director Steve Brockelbank said that there was a lot of interest in the track, but there were several characteristics that stood out Riley, together with coaching a now winning program.

“The other things that impressed the committee and myself were his attention to detail,” said Brockelbank. '[Riley] Was incredibly detailed in terms of his approach, his dedication to player development. One of the things we heard from our hockey student athletes was that they wanted a coach who was committed to developing them, not only as hockey players, but as men, and as students. “

There were a few names that circulated around the opening to coach the bulldogs, including Trevor Large, who played for four seasons for Daniels in Ferris. Riley says that his approach and energy around the game noticed him.

“What you see is what you get,” said Riley. “I am young, passionate and energetic. I think that hopefully I show the blueprint that I could build in the last five years that I can help here.”

Riley admits that it was not easy to leave Liu, but the potential of Bulldog -hockey went to the position.

“During the entire process, meeting people, seeing a sense of community, seeing championship teams from the past, and also the challenge to rebuild to that future. Resources, atmosphere. … The student athlete can have it all here. For me I see so much potential, and that is where I ran.”

The Needham, Mass., Native has contributed to starting up two different programs in his coaching career. After he had gotten a D-III program at Wilkes University, he joined the Colgate staff in 2019 as an assistant before he took the job on Long Island.

Riley did not give a direct answer when he was asked if the Job Ferris State was a springboard for him, but says that the long -term support for the university and the city is a good basis for a successful program.

“I think the resources are being set up here to be successful,” said Riley. “There is a history and tradition that shows that. Replacing someone who has been here for more than 30 years and meets a lot of administration during the entire process that has been here for a long time, because they are happy and everything is needed to be successful. That is what I have.”

It will be an interesting change in culture in Big Rapids. Bob Daniels is a very approachable, gentle person. Riley is proud of open communication, but also presents itself as a determined voice that is ready to drive his players to be the best they can be, with the expectation of growth of the individuals and the team.

“Every day will be difficult, it will be demanding, but also have fun,” said Riley. “I want our student athletes and our boys to come to the ice rink every day. The ice rink must be a destination for them where they can learn and grow.”

The 33-year-old is the youngest in NCAA Men's di hockey and comes to West-Michigan with a pretty big task to bring Ferris State to a level of relevance and ever respect it. While Daniels led the team to the National Tournament four times, including the national title matches of 2012, the program has seen difficult times in the past decade.

The Bulldogs have not had a winning season since 2015-16 when they won the MacNaughton Cup as WCA champions and made their last performance in the NCAA tournament. Since then they have only removed the quarterfinals of the play -offs of the conference.

“We will work to become the most competitive, hard -working and detailed team in the country,” said Riley. “[Our culture] There will be one that is 24/7, 365 and is committed to doing things in the right way in and next to the ice, as coach Daniels built here. Commitment for fitness, training and a culture that is passionate and driven to be the best in everything we do. “

Only a day in the transfer portal says Riley that he will take the time to evaluate the status of the program in Ferris State, ready to do what is needed to improve the schedule for next season.

“A lot of really good things happen here, and there are many names looking for houses,” said Riley. “I think we should be methodical and calculated as we move to put the best product on the ice in October.”

The Bulldogs have already entered a few of their bigger names. Cole Burtch, who led FSU in scoring after switching from West -Michigan last summer, there is one, together with Captain Travis Schoudy, who has been in Big Rapids for most of his time.

Ferris State Football head coach Tony Annese, who led his program to three D-II championships in four years, asked Riley what would be needed to get Ferris State back to the Frozen Four.

“Maybe we can take your blueprint,” Riley chuckled. “We can get a little faster.”