University of District of Columbia Men's Basketball

Riley was hired on June 11th, 2013 to lead the University of the District of Columbia Men's Basketball program. "Mike Riley is an outstanding choice to lead our Men's Basketball program," Director of Athletics Patricia Thomas said on the day of his hiring. "He has exceptional credentials and experience as a coach and administrator. Most importantly, though, he is a person of extremely high character and values. He is a tremendous leader of men. I have no doubt that he will take the University of the District of Columbia Men's Basketball program to new heights, and our student-athletes will benefit tremendously on the court, in the classroom, and in life by having him at the helm." Riley has a distinguished coaching resume which includes more than 20 years as an assistant coach at Georgetown University. He was also an assistant coach on the 1988 Olympic basketball team that earned the bronze medal. Riley came to the University of the District of Columbia in 2009 and has served as the Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Operations during that time. "I am ecstatic to be able to take over as the new Head Men's Basketball Coach at the University of the District of Columbia," said Riley. "The Firebirds have a long and rich tradition.  As the University continues to move in a positive direction, I look forward to leading this program as one piece of the successful future of the University. We will recruit young men that will work hard and intelligently in the classroom and on the basketball court. We will be positive citizens on campus and in the community.  We will represent the Firebird family well in all that we do. It is an honor and a privilege to be selected as the Men's Basketball Coach at the University of the District of Columbia." Riley is a Washington, DC native, having graduated from Cardozo High School, where he was a standout guard on the men's basketball team. Riley earned team Defensive Player of the Year honors while at Cardozo and was also selected Most Valuable Player during his senior year. Riley was inducted into the Cardozo High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011. After attending Cardozo High School, Riley served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Holland stationed in the Mediterranean.  Riley went on to graduate from Georgetown University with a Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Sociology. While at Georgetown, Riley was a member of the Hoyas Men's Basketball Team where he was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Riley went on to serve as an assistant basketball coach at Georgetown University from 1983 to 2004.  While at Georgetown, Riley coached the Hoyas to six Big East Conference Championships, four Big East Tournament Championships, two Final Fours, and the 1984 National Championship.  He also served as the academic coordinator during his tenure at Georgetown.  In addition to his accomplishments at Cardozo and Georgetown, Riley also served as Athletic Director at St. Augustine Catholic School.  From 1980 to 1982, he was an Assistant Headmaster, Economics teacher, and junior varsity basketball coach at Gonzaga College High School. Mike Riley was hired on June 11th, 2013 to lead the University of the District of Columbia Men's Basketball program. "Mike Riley is an outstanding choice to lead our Men's Basketball program," Director of Athletics Patricia Thomas said on the day of his hiring. "He has exceptional credentials and experience as a coach and administrator. Most importantly, though, he is a person of extremely high character and values. He is a tremendous leader of men. I have no doubt that he will take the University of the District of Columbia Men's Basketball program to new heights, and our student-athletes will benefit tremendously on the court, in the classroom, and in life by having him at the helm." Riley has a distinguished coaching resume which includes more than 20 years as an assistant coach at Georgetown University. He was also an assistant coach on the 1988 Olympic basketball team that earned the bronze medal. Riley came to the University of the District of Columbia in 2009 and has served as the Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Operations during that time. "I am ecstatic to be able to take over as the new Head Men's Basketball Coach at the University of the District of Columbia," said Riley. "The Firebirds have a long and rich tradition.  As the University continues to move in a positive direction, I look forward to leading this program as one piece of the successful future of the University. We will recruit young men that will work hard and intelligently in the classroom and on the basketball court. We will be positive citizens on campus and in the community.  We will represent the Firebird family well in all that we do. It is an honor and a privilege to be selected as the Men's Basketball Coach at the University of the District of Columbia." Riley is a Washington, DC native, having graduated from Cardozo High School, where he was a standout guard on the men's basketball team. Riley earned team Defensive Player of the Year honors while at Cardozo and was also selected Most Valuable Player during his senior year. Riley was inducted into the Cardozo High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011. After attending Cardozo High School, Riley served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Holland stationed in the Mediterranean.  Riley went on to graduate from Georgetown University with a Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Sociology. While at Georgetown, Riley was a member of the Hoyas Men's Basketball Team where he was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Riley went on to serve as an assistant basketball coach at Georgetown University from 1983 to 2004.  While at Georgetown, Riley coached the Hoyas to six Big East Conference Championships, four Big East Tournament Championships, two Final Fours, and the 1984 National Championship.  He also served as the academic coordinator during his tenure at Georgetown.  In addition to his accomplishments at Cardozo and Georgetown, Riley also served as Athletic Director at St. Augustine Catholic School.  From 1980 to 1982, he was an Assistant Headmaster, Economics teacher, and junior varsity basketball coach at Gonzaga College High School.

Iati has been instrumental in helping the program transition into the East Coast Conference. After struggling to just one win in 2009-10, the Firebirds went 11-15 and beat the eventual East Region Champions, Bloomfield College in 2010-11. The 2011-2012 season saw the Firebirds go 22-6 overall and earn their first NCAA tournament appearance in 25 years. Iati served as Volunteer Director of Basketball Operations at Iona College for several years, including the 2005-06 team that went 238, won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship, and earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Coach Iati also served as the Assistant Basketball Coach at Iona College under Pat Kennedy during the 1982-84 seasons and complied a 4317 record and one NCAA appearance. Iati also coached the Riverside Church Hawks, currently known as the Metro Hawks, one of the premier AAU program in New York City, which turned out over 35 NBA players and hundreds of Division-1 players.  During his playing career, he was recruited by Jim Valvano at Iona College. Iona had a team record of 91-34 in four years with two NCAA (1981 Sweet Sixteen) and one NIT appearance. He was a two-year starter, four-year letterman, captain of the team (1982), and graduated as the school's all-time assist leader. He also went on to earn his MBA in 1985. Iati played basketball at York Catholic High School, in York, PA and took the team to its first Pennsylvania State Championship in 1978 with a 322 record. He was named an AP and UPI First Team Pennsylvania All-State Selection in 1978.    View: | Desktop

Bio Armstrong joins the Firebirds as a Coach after graduating and playing during the 98-00 seasons.  Last season Armstrong helped Dominican University win the CACC North Division, and being #1 overall seed in the Conference Tournament. Dominican made the NCAA Tournament and won their 1st Round Game vs Adelphi University, second time in school history, Armstrong was a part of both.  In the 2020, he served as the Associate Head Men's Basketball Coach at Lincoln University for 2yrs. In June of 2022, Armstrong was named Interim Head Men's Basketball Coach and led the team to the First time ever CIAA Conference Final 4 and Championship Game. On July 14, 2023,  Armstrong was named the 23rd Head Men's Basketball Coach at Lincoln University. Last season Armstrong lead the team back to the CIAA Final 4 and Championship Game taking home the prize of bringing Lincoln University its 1st ever 2024 CIAA Conference Tournament Championship in school history and also capturing the regular season champion of the North Division.   Armstrong will serve as an assistant coach, help with recruiting, handle player development, and scout the opponent. During his tenure at Dominican, the Chargers reached four consecutive Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) championship games, while claiming back-to-back CACC championships 2019 & 2020.  Armstrong began his coaching career guiding the Riverside Church Hawks AAU Program (Senior Team 18 and under) in Harlem, New York from 2006-2011. His teams won numerous tournaments on the AAU circuit, including Elmcor Summer Tournament, Stop the Violence - Memorial Day Tournament, Atlantic City Showcase, NY Blaze Invitational, and the Holcombe Rucker Tournament. Armstrong has also coached at the high school level, serving as the head junior varsity and an assistant varsity coach at La Salle Academy High School (2007-09) before taking the head JV, varsity coach, and Athletic Director jobs at Uncommon Charter High School in Brooklyn, NY.   He started his college ranks for two seasons as an assistant coach at Bloomfield College, where he helped the Deacons claim back-to-back CACC championships 2012 & 2013.  In 2020, Coach Armstrong was ranked #6 of the Top 10 D2 Black Assistant Coaches in the Country by Minority Coaches Association.  During the summer, Armstrong works at Basketball City Basketball Camp, NBPA (National Basketball Player Association) - Five Star Elite Basketball Camp and the WNBPA (Women's National Basketball Player Association) Elite Camp. He has also worked at Hoop Mountain Elite Camp, Scout Focus Elite Camp and has served as an Assistant Director of the New York Knicks Summer Basketball Camp.  A 1995 graduate of LaSalle Academy High School in New York City, Armstrong played alongside a pair of McDonald's All-Americans - Shammgod Wells aka God Shammgod (1995), and Ron Artest (1997) - during his standout high school career. His collegiate basketball career began Dominican College, where he played two seasons – including playing a part of the 1995-96 regular season championship team. He finished his career at The University of the District of Columbia, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Communications (television/radio) in 2000. Upon graduation, Armstrong accepted a position at Black Entertainment Television (BET), working at the network on the show Rap City Tha Basement from 2000-2005 before beginning his basketball coaching career. Every season is dedicated to his mom; Gracie Massenburg, Mike Coffey, and Alton "Craig" Swift (435 Family).