(S47 Class) Jack "Coach" Reilly

[Enorama 1,980]

Jack "Coach" Reilly

Class of S47

Member: CoachReilly
Positions Held: VHLM General Manager, VHL General Manager, Updater

 

Jack Reilly is one of the most famous VHLM figures in its long history. He's left his mark on the league not just with the success that he had in his long tenure as the GM as the Saskatoon Wild, but the league's GM of the year award is also named the Jack Reilly Award in his honor. Although I was never around for his achievements, I can still feel the effect that he had on the league with his time here through the GM award and some of the flair that he brought to managing a team (such as his rambunctious trade announcements).

 

First joining the league in S17, Jack came flying out of the gate with his first player, Cam Fowler. He became what is still one of the only first-gens to join the Hall of Fame, after collecting a pair of Vladimir Kostka Awards and a Continental Cup along the way. Hot on Fowler's heels came Jarvis Baldwin, who constituted about 17% of the famed Seattle Six. Much like Reilly's Fowler, Baldwin found himself a place within the HOF. Starting off one's member career with two straight Hall of Famers is no small feat and something that would make anyone stand out, regardless of their performance off the ice. Reilly is not someone who only performed on the ice though, he made even more of a name for himself for what he did in the front office and behind the scenes.

 

Beyond his players, Reilly is mostly known for setting the record for the longest tenure as a VHLM General Manager at 12 seasons. He managed the Saskatoon Wild for all 12 seasons (S18-S29) and made the most of it, winning the Founders' Cup in S24, S25, and S28 and the Ken Holland Award for best General Manager in S18, S24, S25, and S28. His mark on the VHLM was not only in his success, but across his entire career Reilly also worked well with new members with the beginning of their careers. His interaction with players in the minors can be thanked for some of the rookies of his time maintaining their activity and interest in the league. Upon his retirement, the Ken Holland Award was recast in his name in recognition of his success in the VHLM and the lasting influence he had on the league.

 

Ten short seasons after his retirement from the VHLM front office, Reilly decided to try his hand in the big league. Starting in S40, Coach took the reins of the HC Davos Dynamo (have to actually check whether they were the Dynamo yet at the time). Although he didn't see any team success at their helm, that was more of a comment of the team at the time (they didn't win a Cup until 15 years after Reilly retired) than it was of his prowess as a manager.

 

Beyond the management and playing, Reilly also devoted a lot of time to updating players' attributes at a time where we didn't have our slick portal, and it was significantly more time consuming. The sheer amount of time that Reilly must have spent helping other players achieve their TPE must have been staggering, considering he was (at the time) one of the longest tenured updaters in the league. Not only that, Reilly was also renowned for sharing his opinions, both as a member of the Board of Governers and as a general member of the league. While he was not one of those known for starting fights, he maintained some intense competitive rivalries, especially during his first two players' careers in Seattle.

 

All in all, Coach Reilly cemented himself as an unforgettable member of the league in multiple aspects, and it took the HOF committee very little to come to a consensus on who the builder inductee would be in S47, Coach Reilly is on his way to the Hall.

[Victor 10,550]

Good job putting the snippets of information into paragraphs.

 

And excellent 590 find.

[diamond_ace 3,106]

Good article, hits all the major stuff and doesn't sell my friend short in the least. I'm coming for that VHLM credit though