Aug. 19, 2008

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Already an accomplished coach, teacher and golf professional in the local area, Will Reilly has been hired as Villanova's head golf coach for the varsity men's golf program. Reilly takes over the program from brothers Jake and Joe Moran, who had been the team's head coaches since 1993.

Reilly has been the head golf professional at Twining Valley Golf and Fitness Club since 1991 and also served as the head coach of the Mount Saint Joseph's ladies golf program in 2006 and 2007. A member of the PGA of America and the PGA of America Junior Golf Association, Reilly is well-known locally for his community work and teaching experience and has won numerous awards during a golf career which has spanned 26 years.

The Mount Saint Joseph's team has been undefeated for the past ten years and Reilly guided the team to PIAA state championships in 2006 and 2007. He also coached the Upper Moreland High School team in 2004 and 2005. Reilly's first coaching position came with the men's team at Bishop McDevitt High School as an assistant to his mother Sue Reilly.

One of the critical keys to success for any coach is their teaching ability and this is an area where Reilly stands out. Reilly has provided instruction to many individuals while at Twining Valley and is currently teaching many accomplished high school and college golfers.

Reilly has also been involved in helping other coaches get the most out of their abilities. He helped created and conducted the Philadelphia PGA Coaches Summit for the purpose of instructing high school golf coaches on how to prepare their players to play at the collegiate level. Reilly also is a member of the Philadelphia PGA Instruction Committee and the Executive Committee of the Spirit of Golf Foundation. That foundation, backed by Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, has the goal of introducing a coaching curriculum to coaches all around the country to increase their coaching effectiveness.

As active in the community as he is in coaching and teaching, Reilly is the executive director of the First Tee of Montgomery County. The organization is part of the World Golf Foundation and gives kids an opportunity to experience golf while learning life lessons. Reilly has also run numerous youth clinics and conducted private instruction each year since he came to Twining Valley and was a recipient of the U.S. Kids Top 50 Teacher Award each year from 2006-08.

The numerous career accomplishments for Reilly both on and off the golf course have been well recognized. He was a winner of the 2007 National PGA of America President's Plaque and in both 2006 and 2007 won the award for the Philadelphia section of the PGA. The honor recognizes individual PGA members for contributions to the game in the area of player development. Reilly also received the 2005 National PGA of America Junior Leader of the Year Award after receiving the honor locally in 2003 and 2004. He was presented in 2003 with the Philadelphia Police Athletic League Award for special service and is the founder of the Philadelphia Association of Sports Trivia.

A standout player in his own right, Reilly is a three-time Pennsylvania state putting champion and a two-time local qualifier at the U.S. Open. He was the 1996 Bucks County Open champion and that year was named the Top-Flite East Coast Player of the Year. Reilly is a five-time finalist in the Oldsmobile Scramble National Championship and in 2007 was the co-champion of the SAP Invitational held at Wyncote Golf Club as well as the low PGA Professional at the 2008 Philadelphia PGA Las Vegas Pro-Am.

Reilly comes home to his alma mater at Villanova, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree with a History minor. He is also from a golf family. His father Hugh is a lifetime member of the PGA of America. His brothers Hugh and Michael, graduates of Villanova University, are also members of the PGA of America. Will's mother Sue coached five of his seven siblings through the Bishop McDevitt golf program. His wife Jodi works at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in Flourtown Pa.