Colin O'Reilly

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Colin O'Reilly

| image =

| position = Head coach

| height_cm = 200

| weight_kg =

| league =

| team =

| number =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|01|30|df=y}}

| birth_place = Cork, Ireland

| high_school =

| college = Post (2002–2004)

| draft_year =

| career_start = 2004

| career_end = 2022

| career_position = Forward

| coach_start = 2013

| years1 = 2004–2005

| team1 = Killarney Gleneagle Lakers

| years2 = 2005–2006

| team2 = UCC Demons

| years3 = 2006–2007

| team3 = ETB SW Essen

| years4 = 2007

| team4 = UCC Demons

| years5 = 2007–2008

| team5 = USC Freiburg

| years6 = 2008–2009

| team6 = UCC Demons

| years7 = 2009–2012

| team7 = Cheshire Phoenix

| years8 = 2012–2013

| team8 = Plymouth Raiders

| years9 = 2013–2016

| team9 = UCC Demons

| years10 = 2015

| team10 = →Hibernia

| years11 = 2017–2019

| team11 = UCC Demons

| years12 = 2019–2020

| team12 = Killorglin

| years13 = 2021–2022

| team13 = Neptune

| cyears1 = 2013–2016

| cteam1 = UCC Demons

| cyears2 = 2016

| cteam2 = Cheshire Phoenix

| cyears3 = 2017–2019

| cteam3 = UCC Demons

| cyears4 = 2019–2020

| cteam4 = Killorglin

| cyears5 = 2021–2023

| cteam5 = Neptune

| highlights =

3× Irish League champion (2009, 2015, 2016)
3× Irish Champions Trophy winner (2014–2016)
4× Irish National Cup winner (2006, 2009, 2014, 2015)

}}

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[http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/other-sports/oreilly-still-living-dream-254902.html O'Reilly still living dream] and later represented the Irish national team as both a player and as a player-coach.

Early life

O'Reilly was born in Cork, Ireland.{{cite web |title=Ireland |url=http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/team/p/sid/4948/tid/305/_/2007_EuroBasket/index.html |website=fiba.com |access-date=27 January 2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218134233/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/team/p/sid/4948/tid/305/_/2007_EuroBasket/index.html |archive-date=18 December 2019}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.basketballireland.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3040 |title=Inaugural All-Stars Revealed |work=BasketballIreland.ie |date=26 March 2015 |accessdate=26 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20150405121827/http://www.basketballireland.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3040 |archivedate=5 April 2015 }} 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.{{cite web | url=http://www.basketballireland.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3033 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923182538/http://www.basketballireland.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3033 | url-status=dead | archive-date=23 September 2015 | title=GAME ZONE: National League Finals | work=BasketballIreland.ie | date=22 March 2015 | accessdate=29 March 2015}} He was later named both Player of the Year and Coach of the Year for the 2014–15 season.[http://www.rte.ie/sport/basketball/2015/0513/700864-basketball-ireland-awards/ Basketball Ireland awards for Colin O'Reilly and Niamh Dwyer][http://bi.comortais.com/homeitem.aspx?o=1004&c=o~1004&compId=0&item=1334 NATIONAL AWARDS – SEASON 2014/15] In 2015–16, he helped Demons reclaim both the Premier League title and the Champions Trophy.{{Cite web |url=http://www.basketballireland.ie/news-detail/10001241/ |title=DEMONS CLAIM END OF SEASON CHAMPIONS TROPHY |access-date=21 March 2016 |archive-date=21 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321052450/http://www.basketballireland.ie/news-detail/10001241/ |url-status=dead }}

On 22 June 2016, O'Reilly was appointed head coach of the Cheshire Phoenix for the 2016–17 British Basketball League season.[http://cheshirephoenix.com/cheshire-phoenix-appoint-new-head-coach/ Cheshire Phoenix Appoint New Head Coach][http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/sport/basketball/cheshire-phoenix-appoint-colin-oreilly-11507514 Cheshire Phoenix appoint Colin O'Reilly as head coach] However, after a poor start to the season, he parted ways with the club in December 2016.[http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/sport/basketball/club-legend-robbie-peers-makes-12424642 Club legend Robbie Peers makes return to Cheshire Phoenix]

In July 2017, O'Reilly returned to UCC Demons as player-coach for the 2017–18 season.[http://www.bluedemonsbc.com/club/colin-oreilly-named-as-head-coach-for-201718-season/ COLIN O'REILLY NAMED AS HEAD COACH FOR 2017/18 SEASON][http://ballineurope.com/colin-o-reilly-profile-basketball-6131/ COLIN COMES HOME] He parted ways with Demons after the 2018–19 season.[https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-40152578.html O'Reilly is still in love with basketball even as his time with Demons concludes]

In June 2019, O'Reilly joined Killorglin as player-coach for the 2019–20 season.[https://www.independent.ie/au/regionals/kerryman/sport/other-sports/colin-oreilly-joins-keanes-killorglin-as-playercoach-38212106.html Colin O'Reilly joins Keanes Killorglin as player/coach][https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/Neptune-take-the-place-of-basketball-rivals-Demons-in-the-Super-League-07e8d511-e417-427b-aa23-b3d80588d6f1-ds Neptune take the place of basketball rivals Demons in the Super League]

O'Reilly was set to serve as player-coach of Neptune for the 2020–21 season[https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-40094546.html Cork basketball clubs prepare for opening games but challenges lie ahead] before it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web | url=https://www.basketballireland.ie/news-detail/10067273/202021-national-league-season-halted-with-immediate-effect/ | title=2020/21 National League season halted with immediate effect | work=BasketballIreland.ie | date=15 October 2020 | accessdate=16 October 2020 | archive-date=16 October 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016122101/https://www.basketballireland.ie/news-detail/10067273/202021-national-league-season-halted-with-immediate-effect/ | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=https://www.basketballireland.ie/news-detail/10067974/202021-mens-national-league-season-cancelled/ | title=2020/21 Mens National League season cancelled | work=BasketballIreland.ie | date=28 November 2020 | accessdate=28 November 2020 | archive-date=30 November 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130101301/https://www.basketballireland.ie/news-detail/10067974/202021-mens-national-league-season-cancelled/ | url-status=dead }} He returned as player-coach of Neptune for the 2021–22 season.[https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-40716095.html Neptune basketball club: Roy Downey is confident his team can challenge]

Coaching career

For the 2022–23 season, O'Reilly continued on as Neptune's head coach.{{cite web|url=https://ireland.basketball/-i-still-feel-like-this-sport-is-a-sleeping-giant-here-jordan-blount-opens-up-on-return-to-ireland|title='I still feel like this sport is a sleeping giant here' – Jordan Blount opens up on return to Ireland|work=ireland.basketball|date=13 September 2022|accessdate=19 October 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://ireland.basketball/20221016124554-energywise-ireland-neptune-victorious-in-local-derby-singleton-supervalu-brunell-maintain-unbeaten-start|title=Energywise Ireland Neptune victorious in local derby, Singleton SuperValu Brunell maintain unbeaten start|work=ireland.basketball|date=16 October 2022|accessdate=19 October 2022}} He began the 2023–24 season as coach before being replaced in November 2023.{{cite web|url=https://ireland.basketball/20231123120710-preview-kelleher-s-whirlwind-week-as-energywise-ireland-neptune-look-to-end-belfast-star-s-winning-run|title=Preview: Kelleher's "whirlwind week", as Energywise Ireland Neptune look to end Belfast Star's winning run|work=ireland.basketball|date=23 November 2023|accessdate=6 December 2023}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://ireland.basketball/20220420160100-o-reilly-and-kelleher-appointed-ireland-senior-men-s-and-women-s-3x3-head-coaches|title=O'Reilly and Kelleher appointed Ireland senior men's and women's 3x3 head coaches|work=ireland.basketball|date=20 April 2022|accessdate=22 April 2022}}

In 2019, O'Reilly served as player-coach of the Irish 3x3 team at the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup.{{cite web|url=https://sl.basketballireland.ie/news-detail/10052886/gamezone-fiba-mens-and-womens-3x3-europe-cup-qualifiers/|title=GAMEZONE: FIBA Men's and Women's 3x3 Europe Cup Qualifiers|work=basketballireland.ie|date=29 June 2019|accessdate=22 April 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://play.fiba3x3.com/players/cb38419c-88da-4f34-af21-9e181d94b4e2/activity|title=Colin O'Reilly|work=play.fiba3x3.com|accessdate=22 April 2022}}

In April 2022, O'Reilly was re-appointed coach of the Irish men's 3x3 team. In March 2024, he was appointed coach of the Irish women's 3x3 team.{{cite web|url=https://ireland.basketball/-colin-o-reilly-appointed-ireland-senior-women-s-3x3-head-coach|title=Colin O'Reilly appointed Ireland Senior Women's 3x3 Head Coach|work=ireland.basketball|date=29 March 2024|accessdate=30 March 2024}}

Personal life

O'Reilly's older brother, Niall, also plays basketball.[http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/columnists/kieran-shannon/the-big-interview-ucc-demons-niall-and-colin-oreilly-308729.html KIERAN SHANNON: The Big Interview: UCC Demons' Niall and Colin O’Reilly] His sisters, Orla and Sinead, played college basketball for Binghamton University. After graduating, Orla went on to play professionally.{{cite news |author1=Joanna Kiernan |title=Ahead of the game... how Orla O'Reilly stays in peak shape |url=https://www.independent.ie/life/ahead-of-the-game-how-orla-oreilly-stays-in-peak-shape-31596773.html |accessdate=9 November 2019 |work=Irish Independent |date=13 October 2015}}

O'Reilly is a former Cork senior hurling championship winner. He played for Blackrock and helped them win the 2002 Cork Senior Hurling Championship.[https://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cork-hurling-title-winner-oreilly-bids-for-cup-final-36462818.html Cork hurling title winner O'Reilly bids for Cup final]