HAMILTON – Colgate Football is welcoming back one of its own with the hiring this week of Ameer Riley '02 to an assistant coaching position.
 
Riley comes to the Raiders after one season at Miami Northwestern Senior High School and five seasons at St. Thomas Aquinas School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He served as defensive coordinator at both stops and also as the strength and conditioning coach for St. Thomas Aquinas, where he oversaw a staff of 7-10 coaches for the national football powerhouse.
 
Also nicknamed the Raiders, St. Thomas Aquinas during Riley's stay fashioned a 72-8 record and won Florida state championships in 2015, 2016 and 2019. The Raiders participated in Two Geico National Series games, winning in 2019 to claim the Geico National Championship after a 15-0 season.
 
Riley also served as defensive coordinator since 2016 at the UnderArmour All American Camp Series. There, he worked to maintain a cohesive coaching environment with high profile current and former NFL players and coaches on staff.
 
"He was, hands down, one of the best defensive backs we've ever had here at Colgate," Colgate head coach Dan Hunt said. "He was everything you ever look for in a football player – tough, physical, smart, enthusiastic, competitive – and I know he will bring that with his coaching.
 
"We are very fortunate to be able to bring a family member back, someone with Ameer's experience who did a great job at St. Thomas Aquinas. Obviously, he's very tuned in with the South Florida football culture and he will be recruiting down there for us."
 
Riley is working with the defensive secondary under co-defensive coordinator Stan Dakosty.
 
"I'm really happy to get him on the staff," Hunt said. "I expect him to be a great influence on our guys and he's a nice tie-in to the late 1990s, early 2000s era of Colgate Football."
 
Two-Time All-Patriot League
Riley played safety for the Raiders from 1998-2001 and was a two-time All-Patriot League selection. He earned First Team honors in 2001 after intercepting four passes, one of which he returned for a touchdown against Towson. For those efforts, Riley was named to the 2001 Don Hansen Football National Gazette All-American Team.
 
Riley was a Second Team selection during Colgate's 1999 Patriot League championship season.
 
"I can't thank Coach Hunt and his staff enough for welcoming me back to Colgate," Riley said. "It's an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to be a part of the Colgate community and have a positive influence on young people's lives as they pursue their goals on and off the field.
 
A native of Norwood, Massachusetts, Riley went on to play professionally for three seasons in the Arena Football League. He was a three-year starter and played on both sides of the ball, earning nomination in 2005 for Iron Man Player of the Year.