Since the doors of Cleveland High School opened for students, Scott Riley has been a part of its fabric. Riley, longtime head football coach of the Rams, stepped down from that role today to become the new head coach of Swain County High School.
“It obviously means a lot to me,” Riley said. “I’ve been there since the school opened in one capacity or another. And you know, four years leading the wrestling program and 12 years leading the football program and being an assistant football before that. So I’ve seen it from the ground up. … I told the players today, ‘I said, ‘I’m not Cleveland football and never was.’ It’s all about what those kids have accomplished, and I just played my role in it.”
In his tenure, Riley compiled a 130-27 record, winning 11 conference titles and at least one playoff game in each of his 12 seasons.
He takes over a Maroon Devils program that owns eight state championships, and is located about 20 miles from his wife’s hometown of Hayesville. The desire to be closer to her extended family was a big part of this decision for Riley.
“Being closer to family is important,” he said. “I think the way of life in the mountains will suit us and our family really well. And it’s somewhere we always wanted to end up long term. There aren’t a lot of great football jobs there — or jobs there period. So when one comes available at a place as special as Swain County, we had to look into it.
“That’s what I told the players as well today. I said it’s not about anything lacking here. It’s just a perfect situation for us and our family and that that came available and, you know, you’ve got to jump on those opportunities when they come in life.
“They’ve hung eight state championship banners up there. That’s something that I don’t know if any other school can say. And one close to where my wife is from is a match made in heaven. To be blessed with and entrusted with a program like that is a big responsibility. I’m kind of humbled by the fact that they chose me to do it.”
Riley leaves behind a powerhouse program in this part of the state, and he says he’s grateful for the journey.
“(I just want to say) thank you to everyone in the community of Cleveland, and Johnson County in general, that have supported me and our family over the years,” Riley said. “I’ve still got the same number and, and that won’t change. So, I’m always a phone call away and just appreciative of everything that the community, the school and the players have done for Cleveland football — but for me personally as well.”