Chris Riley’s experience on the diamond was not what one might assume. Growing up, Riley often felt disconnected from the game. Years later, as his nephew began his own Little League® journey, Riley noticed him experiencing many of the same frustrations he had faced as a young player. Riley decided to step up to the plate and become a volunteer coach to create a more positive environment for the Little Leaguers® in his community and his impact didn’t stop there.
Throughout his ten years with Grand Mesa Little League (Grand Junction, Colo.), Riley has served in several positions including League President and coach, acting as a mentor for both the volunteers and the youth baseball and softball players. The wins he has experienced with his teams have been rewarding, but Riley’s greatest accomplishment are the lessons he teaches that the players carry with them after the final out. Through these lessons, he is able to build a space both on and off the diamond that makes every kid feel valued and supported.
For his efforts as a coach, Riley was named the 2026 Little League Baseball® Coach of the Year, Supported by the Positive Coaching Alliance. Also recognized as the November 2026 Little League Diamond Leader of the Month, Little League sat down with Riley for a Diamond Leader Discussion.
Why do you think it is important for coaches and volunteers to take the Diamond Leader Training Program?
I think that there are times when people don’t have positive or productive Little League experiences. Providing coaches with educational opportunities, whether it is learning how kids feel, interact, talk, or even just being able to explain the “why” behind decisions on the field are all things that are critically important and things you take away from the Diamond Leader Training Program.
What lessons from the training do you think had the biggest impact on how you approach coaching?
I think one of the biggest takeaways is the importance of making kids feel included and being proactive and positive in how we communicate with them, support them, and help them learn the game. Every child comes into Little League with a different skill level, and as coaches, we have an obligation to find a place for everyone. One of our greatest responsibilities as coaches and leaders is to provide kids with a sense of belonging and a supportive community that they can rely on, and I think the Diamond Leader training really harps on that.
Why should someone volunteer as a Little League Coach?
I volunteer for a lot of things and while there are time and financial commitments that come with coaching, the rewards far outweigh those costs. Seeing a kid who may have struggled on the field at 11 years old grow into an 18-year-old heading off to college and knowing they remember you simply because you treated them well is incredibly rewarding. I’ve worked alongside someone who served as president of Grand Mesa LL for 55 years before I stepped into the roll. When we attend baseball games around Grand Junction, I see grown men, some old enough to be my father, come up to him and call him “Coach.” That speaks volumes about the lasting impact a coach can have on a young person’s life. The way we treat kids while they are young can stay with them for a lifetime.
What does it mean to you to be a Diamond Leader, and why should others strive to be the same?
It is very humbling. I try to treat kids right, and I try to make the best experience possible for them. I would hope that if they are able to take one thing away from their time with me as their coach is that they are important, that they have value, and that value carries beyond the diamond.
The Little League Diamond Leader program, which was first piloted with nearly 1,000 Little League volunteers throughout the 2022 season, was created as part of the Susan Crown Exchange’s Million Coaches Challenge and developed in coordination with the Aspen Institute’s Project Play. Focused on ensuring children have a positive, well-rounded experience on and off the field, the Little League Diamond Leader Training Program is a FREE educational resource that provides coaches with an understanding of the impact that mental, social, and emotional well-being has in youth sports through detailed information, interactive scenarios, and a variety of additional resources. Learn more and become a Diamond Leader yourself by visiting LittleLeague.org/DiamondLeader.
The Little League Challenger Division is proudly supported by Eggland’s Best, the Official Egg of Little League Baseball and Softball. An official sponsor since 2023, Eggland’s Best provides grant opportunities to local Challenger Division leagues each year and is the presenting sponsor of the Little League Challenger Division Exhibition Game at the Little League Baseball World Series each August.