Bud Riley had a career in the CFL that spanned 13 years from 1973 to 1985 and six teams. Riley was born in Guin, AL and started his coaching career at Idaho where he served three years (1962-64) as an assistant coach. From there, Riley moved on to Oregon State as an assistant coach from 1965 to 1972. Riley's first gig in the CFL was as an assistant coach with Saskatchewan in 1973. From there, Riley became the head coach in Winnpeg for four seasons from 1974 to 1977where he compiled a record of 34-28-2 in 64 games.
In 1978, Riley joined the Toronto Argonauts as an assistant coach, but took over the head coaching reigns in September when the Argos fired Leo Cahill. Riley had a less than successful stint as the Argo head coach with a 1-6 rcord in 7 games. History then seemed to repat it self for Riley as he went back to Oregon State in 1979 as an assistant coacvh and then returned to the CFL in 1980 as an assistan coach again with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Riley moved on to Hamilton in 19881 as an assistan coach for the Tiger-Cats and then took over as Head Coach for two seasons in 1982 and 1983, compiling a record of 12-15-1. Riley's last stop in the CFL was with Calgary where he started the 1985 season as the Stampeders' Directgor of Player Personel. When the Stamps got off to an 0-5 start under head coach Steve Burrato, Burrato was fired and Riley promoted to head coach and promptly won his first game.
There seems to be coaching in the Riley genes as his son Mike Riley has also coached in the CFL. as an assistant (1983-85) and a head coach (1987-90) with Winnipeg. Mike Riley is currently (as of 2012) the head coach at Oregon State, the same school where his father was an assistant coach in the 1960s.
The Future of Bud Riley May Be In Winnipeg - December 8, 1973
Riley's Job On Line On West Coast - November 11, 1977
Bombers Can No Longer Liver the Life of Riley - November 17, 1977
A Four Year Regime Ends for Riley - November 17, 1977
Riley Joins Argonauts - January 11, 1978
Good Ship Argo Rocking Already - September 11, 1978
Bud Riley Back With Saskatchewan - August 15, 1980
Ti-Cats Release Riley From Coaching Post - October 8, 1983
Riley Should Feel Right at Home - February 1, 1985
Bud Riley Flops Into Coachs' Chair - August 13, 1985
Riley's Job Tough as Stamps' Coach - August 17, 1985
Bud Riley has Midas Touch - August 18, 1985
Bud Riley, Father of Oregon State Coach Mike Riley Dies at 86
Bombers Mourn '70s Era Coach Bud Riley
