Eagles tap Riley as new coach
James Riley knows he’s walking into the biggest of challenges as Jamestown High’s new football coach. He also knows the school’s athletic program is otherwise as good as it gets on the Peninsula and among the best perennially in Class 4.
Jamestown has won an incredible 41 state titles while finishing as runner-up 26 times in the school’s 26 years. Riley figures: Why not have one benefit the other?
“When you look at all of the other sports, they have a lot of success and, for the most part, it’s the same kids,” he said. “So, it’s really just trying to crack that code and break through these barriers that are keeping us from being successful.
“I really am going to lean on some of the other head coaches in the building and see how they motivate, connect with and inspire these players because we’re sharing the same kids. It’s important to use their experience to see what the secret sauce is, so to speak.”
Riley, 40, was the defensive coordinator at Colonial Heights last season. He becomes the ninth Jamestown football head coach in 12 years, and steps into a program that has won just 14 games the past 10 seasons.
An assistant coach at James River High of Midlothian for 18 seasons after graduating in 2005 from Hampden-Sydney — where he was an All-ODAC defensive end — Riley has been a head coach for two full seasons and parts of two others. His first head coaching job was at James River in 2019 and in the COVID-shortened spring 2021 season.
He moved to Huguenot for the COVID-shortened fall 2021 season and for all of 2022, compiling a 4-25 head coaching record at the two schools. Colonial Heights went 7-4 last season and Riley’s defense allowed less than 12 points per game in the regular season.
“We like to be very aggressive, so were going to send pressure and try not to let the offense dictate what we do,” Riley said of his defensive philosophy. “We’ll play odd or even fronts, depending on whether we have more linebackers or linemen, but the teaching aspect doesn’t change.
“I’m partial to the option (offensively), but will use a modern version of it we can adapt to any run scheme. It can be very explosive when executed correctly.”
Riley, who will teach physical education at Jamestown, puts academics above all.
“The thing I’m most proud of is sending young men to college who play all four years and graduate on time,” Riley said when asked his coaching highlight.
Riley recently posted online that he is looking for assistant coaches. Those interested can email him at james.r.rileyiii@ gmail.com