Rutgers University Athletics

Tim Reilly is in his seventh season back at Rutgers and fourth as a full-time assistant coach. Reilly had a memorable career as a catcher for the Scarlet Knights from 2006-09.

The Egg Harbor City, N.J., native works with the catchers, assists with the hitters, coaches first base, recruits, organizes camps and handles day-to-day responsibilities of the program in the office. He also prepares scouting reports on the opponents and assists with team travel.

A tireless recruiter, Reilly has helped the Scarlet Knights sign talented student-athletes from across the state and the region. The most recent class for 2017-18 includes eight accomplished New Jersey natives.

Reilly was integral in the development of All-Big Ten catcher R.J. Devish, who entered the program as an infielder. Reilly mentored Devish to eventually become the starting catcher as a junior and he threw out 15 runners attempting to steal. That led to a breakout 2016 season in which Devish was named to the Johnny Bench Award watch list as one of the top catchers in the nation, while hitting .375 with a .524 on-base percentage to rank sixth nationally. In addition to All-Big Ten honors, Devish was named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) District II Player of the Year.

In 2015, Reilly helped the program transition into the Big Ten Conference, earning three series wins, including taking a weekend over No. 13 Iowa at Bainton Field. Sophomore outfielder Tom Marcinczyk earned All-Big Ten Third Team after hitting .337 in the league with seven home runs overall.

Reilly was promoted to assistant coach for the 2014 season that saw the Scarlet Knights earn 30 wins and finish tied for third in the American Athletic Conference standings. Six players from that squad earned all-conference honors and nine picked up all-state. As a hitting instructor, Reilly helped the offense to the second-best average in the conference at .283.

As a volunteer assistant coach in 2012 and 2013, Reilly helped mentor all-league and Johnny Bench Award candidate Jeff Melillo to one of the top catchers in the nation. Those teams combined for seven All-Big East selections, with the 2013 squad reaching the semifinals of the playoffs.

Reilly brings first-hand experience to the program, having played under former head coach Fred Hill. Reilly was behind the plate on the 2007 team that won 42 games - tied for the most in school history - to win the Big East Championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament.

Reilly stayed on at Rutgers in 2010 as a student assistant coach, helping lead a 30-win Scarlet Knight team that advanced to the semifinal round of the Big East Tournament and saw three players drafted.

In 2011, Reilly joined the coaching staff at Rider University. He was responsible for the catchers and hitters while coaching third base on game days. Four Rider hitters were named to the NJCBA (New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association) All-State team, including Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American, NJCBA Rookie of the Year and MAAC Rookie of the Year, Nick Crescenzo. In addition, three Rider hitters were honored on the All-MAAC team. Rider finished the 2011 season 33-18 and ranked second in the conference with the assistance of Reilly's coaching.

Reilly spent 2009 and 2010 as the head coach of the Holy Spirit High School summer baseball team. He also worked for five years as an instructor for the 220 Second to None Baseball Academy, helping players with skill development and strength and conditioning. Several of the players Reilly coached there went on to play baseball at various colleges around the country. 

Reilly went to high school at Holy Spirit in Absecon, N.J.