The school is named in honor of the "Hoosier Poet", James Whitcomb Riley.

The Men's swim team at Riley, is the most successful athletic program in the South Bend Community School Corporation.

Founded in 1952 it has had dozens of swimmers win individual state titles and be named All-Americans.

The Men's swim team at Riley, is the most successful athletic program in the South Bend Community School Corporation, with 7 State Titles ( 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58,1961–62,1977–78,1985–86,1994–95), and 7 State-Runner Titles ( 1960–61, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1982–83, 2001–02,2002–03).

They Riley High School Boys Swim team has also won an additional 31 Northern Indiana Conference Titles ( 1955–56, 1256–57, 1957–58, 1960–61, 1961-1962, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1999-00, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06,2006–07, 2016,17).