Colin O'Reilly

Colin O'Reilly (born 30 January 1984) is an Irish basketball coach and former player. He played Division III college basketball for Post University in the United States in the early 2000s[1] and later represented the Irish national team as both a player and as a player-coach.

Colin O'Reilly
Neptune
PositionHead coach
LeagueIrish Super League
Personal information
Born (1984-01-30) 30 January 1984
Cork, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Listed height200 cm (6 ft 7 in)
Career information
CollegePost (2002–2004)
Playing career2004–2022
PositionForward
Coaching career2013–present
Career history
As player:
2004–2005Killarney Gleneagle Lakers
2005–2006UCC Demons
2006–2007ETB SW Essen
2007UCC Demons
2007–2008USC Freiburg
2008–2009UCC Demons
2009–2012Cheshire Phoenix
2012–2013Plymouth Raiders
2013–2016UCC Demons
2015→Hibernia
2017–2019UCC Demons
2019–2020Killorglin
2021–2022Neptune
As coach:
2013–2016UCC Demons
2016Cheshire Phoenix
2017–2019UCC Demons
2019–2020Killorglin
2021–presentNeptune
Career highlights and awards
  • 3× Irish League champion (2009, 2015, 2016)
  • 3× Irish Champions Trophy winner (2014–2016)
  • 4× Irish National Cup winner (2006, 2009, 2014, 2015)

Professional career

On 26 March 2015, O'Reilly was named an inaugural Premier League All-Star First Pick alongside UCC Demons teammates Kyle Hosford and Lehmon Colbert.[2] Three days later, he helped Demons create Irish basketball history by winning the Champions Trophy and adding to their undefeated 2014–15 season. With a 24–0 record, the team also won the League and National Cup titles. In addition, O'Reilly earned Champions Trophy MVP honours after scoring 25 points in the final.[3] He was later named both Player of the Year and Coach of the Year for the 2014–15 season.[4][5] In 2015–16, he helped Demons reclaim both the Premier League title and the Champions Trophy.[6]

On 22 June 2016, O'Reilly was appointed head coach of the Cheshire Phoenix for the 2016–17 British Basketball League season.[7][8] However, after a poor start to the season, he parted ways with the club in December 2016.[9]

In July 2017, O'Reilly returned to UCC Demons as player-coach for the 2017–18 season.[10][11] He parted ways with Demons after the 2018–19 season.[12]

In June 2019, O'Reilly joined Killorglin as player-coach for the 2019–20 season.[13][14]

O'Reilly was set to serve as player-coach of Neptune for the 2020–21 season[15] before it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[16][17] He returned as player-coach of Neptune for the 2021–22 season.[18]

Coaching career

For the 2022–23 season, O'Reilly continued on as Neptune's head coach.[19][20]

National team career

O'Reilly was head coach of the Irish senior men's team from 2014 to 2016, helping them to a fourth-placed finish at the 2016 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries.[21]

In 2019, O'Reilly served as player-coach of the Irish 3x3 team at the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup.[22][23]

In April 2022, O'Reilly was re-appointed coach of the Irish men's 3x3 team.[21]

Personal life

O'Reilly's older brother, Niall, also plays basketball.[24] His sisters, Orla and Sinead, played college basketball for Binghamton University. After graduating, Orla went on to play professionally.[25]

O'Reilly is a former Cork senior hurling championship winner. He played for Blackrock and helped them win the 2002 Cork Senior Hurling Championship.[26]

References
  1. O'Reilly still living dream
  2. "Inaugural All-Stars Revealed". BasketballIreland.ie. 26 March 2015. Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  3. "GAME ZONE: National League Finals". BasketballIreland.ie. 22 March 2015. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  4. Basketball Ireland awards for Colin O'Reilly and Niamh Dwyer
  5. NATIONAL AWARDS - SEASON 2014/15
  6. DEMONS CLAIM END OF SEASON CHAMPIONS TROPHY
  7. Cheshire Phoenix Appoint New Head Coach
  8. Cheshire Phoenix appoint Colin O'Reilly as head coach
  9. Club legend Robbie Peers makes return to Cheshire Phoenix
  10. COLIN O'REILLY NAMED AS HEAD COACH FOR 2017/18 SEASON
  11. COLIN COMES HOME
  12. O'Reilly is still in love with basketball even as his time with Demons concludes
  13. Colin O'Reilly joins Keanes Killorglin as player/coach
  14. Neptune take the place of basketball rivals Demons in the Super League
  15. Cork basketball clubs prepare for opening games but challenges lie ahead
  16. "2020/21 National League season halted with immediate effect". BasketballIreland.ie. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  17. "2020/21 Mens National League season cancelled". BasketballIreland.ie. 28 November 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  18. Neptune basketball club: Roy Downey is confident his team can challenge
  19. "'I still feel like this sport is a sleeping giant here' - Jordan Blount opens up on return to Ireland". ireland.basketball. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  20. "Energywise Ireland Neptune victorious in local derby, Singleton SuperValu Brunell maintain unbeaten start". ireland.basketball. 16 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  21. "O'Reilly and Kelleher appointed Ireland senior men's and women's 3x3 head coaches". ireland.basketball. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  22. "GAMEZONE: FIBA Men's and Women's 3x3 Europe Cup Qualifiers". basketballireland.ie. 29 June 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  23. "Colin O'Reilly". play.fiba3x3.com. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  24. KIERAN SHANNON: The Big Interview: UCC Demons' Niall and Colin O’Reilly
  25. Joanna Kiernan (13 October 2015). "Ahead of the game... how Orla O'Reilly stays in peak shape". Irish Independent. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  26. Cork hurling title winner O'Reilly bids for Cup final
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