Jeff Riley, a baseball coach at Olentangy High School, lived in Westerville, Ohio, with his wife, Kathy Fenn Riley.
Sadly, Jeff Riley tragically passed away on January 22, 2025. However, the exact cause of death has not been mentioned.
Highlights
- Olentangy High School baseball coach Jeff Riley passed away on January 22, 2025, for an undisclosed reason.
- Riley was married to Kathy Fenn Riley in 1997, and they were blessed with a son, Braden, and a daughter.
- Jeff’s son Braden is a 2020 Orange Baseball Alumni.
On January 16, 2025, Olentangy Baseball announced through their Twitter handle that coach Jeff Riley had been hospitalized due to serious health issues. He wrote,
Prayers go out to Coach Jeff Riley at this time. He is in the hospital with some serious health issues. Hang in there coach! Olentangy Baseball coaching legend. Even better person!!
Olentangy Baseball
Director of High School Relations at The Ohio State University Football Ed Terwilliger shared Olentangy Baseball’s Twitter post and wrote,
Coach! Great Coach & Teacher. Even better Person! Always a Brave.
Andrew Terwilliger
Jeff has been an Olentangy Baseball Diamond Club member since January 3, 2001.
John Feasel, the admin of Lady Brave’s Nation group, poured a small tribute through Facebook by stating,
Sad news for Lady Braves Nation. Today Jeff Riley passed away. He was a huge part of building the program to where it is now. Coach Riley will be missed by all of us as a coach, confidant and most of all, a friend. R.I.P. Coach Riley
John Feasel
Olentangy Baseball took to their official Twitter handle and announced the tragic passing of Jeff Riley. They wrote,
It’s with great sadness we announce the passing of Coach Jeff Riley. Great coach, even better person/friend/husband/father/teacher. Thanks for everything, Coach!
Olentangy Basbeall
According to his family, the visitation will be held at the Field House on Friday, January 24, 2025, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
A memorial service to celebrate Jeff’s life and legacy will be held on Saturday, 2:00 pm, January 25, 2025, at the Lady Braves Field House in Columbus, Ohio.
In honor of Coach Riley’s commitment to the team and his community, the family said that donations will be given to youth sports programs and scholarships to continue Jeff’s legacy of coaching and mentorship.
Jeff Riley Had Two Children With His Wife, Kathy Fenn Riley
Olentangy High School baseball coach Jeff Riley married Kathy Fenn Riley in July 1997. Sadly, their married life ended after 28 years following the tragic death of Jeff.
Jeff’s wife, Kathy, is involved in various fundraising campaigns. On October 2, 2020, she created a Facebook fundraising campaign for the American Cancer Society.
She was also involved in the childhood cancer awareness programs in September 2015.
Jeff and Kathy had one son, Braden Riley, 24, in 2001, and one daughter, whose identity was not revealed.
Their children frequently appear on their social media handles.
On August 25, 2022, Kathy took to her Facebook handle and shared some glimpses of spending quality time with her husband, Jeff, and two children at Red Rock Park in Colorado.
According to the source, Jeff’s son Braden is a 2020 Orange Baseball Alumni. He has followed in his father’s footsteps and continues his baseball career.
His Facebook handle showcased that he lives in Westerville, Ohio, joined Ohio University on May 1, 2020, and left in 2024.
Braden, who is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 160 lbs, plays Shortstop in the primary position and second base in the secondary position for Olentangy Stix Elite, where his father, Jeff, coached him.
In addition, he played basketball until 9th grade and golf until 11th grade.
Braden attended Prospect Games in Miami from July 12 to July 15, 2018, where he set a 3-1 record.
In 2019, he started for Jersey #14 on the Olentangy Varsity team and won the Honorable Mention All-Conference award.
Currently, wife Kathy and her children are mourning the tragic death of Jeff Riley. Their close ones and relatives have condoned the Riley family to stay strong in this challenging period.
Additional Information
- According to public records, Jeff Riley was paid around $2,620 monthly for coaching at Olentangy High School.
- Jeff Riley head coached for the Lady Braves Nation from 1987 to 2001.
- Riley was originally from Columbus, Ohio, but he lived in Westerville. He attended Walnut Ridge High School and later graduated from Ashland University and Bowling Green State University.
