Riley McInerney

Biography

Riley McInerney was hired as EIU Assistant Track Coach / Cross Country Coach in January 2025. He is a former Eastern Illinois runner who was a 13-time All-OVC performer in cross country and track, earning OVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors and competing as an All-Midwest Region performer in cross country with NCAA West Regional appearances in outdoor track. He ran two years professionally for New England Distance/Rhode Island Track Club after earning his bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois in 2017. Prior to returning to Eastern Illinois, McInerney served as assistant coach at Indiana State for two seasons (2022-24) coaching cross country and distance runners, helping coach nine combined men's and women's indoor and outdoor track Missouri Valley Conference champions and recruiting/coaching 30 top ten school performances. He also served as assistant coach at McHenry High School in 2017 coaching two All-Conference runners. McInerney's father is former seven-time OVC Coach of the Year John McInerney. He is a native of Charleston, Illinois.