USC Introduces New Football Coach Lincoln Riley Monday – CBS Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) USC is set to hold an introductory press conference on Monday following the much-vaunted hiring of its new football coach, Lincoln Riley.

Head coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners greets players before a game against the Iowa State Cyclones at the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Getty Images)

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The 38-year-old Riley, who spent the last five seasons with Oklahoma, will look to turn around a program that has been bound by mediocrity over the past decade.

The appointment drew praise from several USC legends, including the 2004 winner of the Heisman Trophy, Matt Leinart, and the 2005 winner of the Heisman Trophy, Reggie Bush.

Riley’s move to USC has already had an impact on recruitment. Los Alamitos High School quarterback Malachi Nelson, the No. 3 ranked prospect in the ESPN Junior 300, announced on social media Sunday night that he would be releasing from Oklahoma “in light of recent events and changes.”

Riley coached the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks each of his first two seasons as Sooners ‘coach – Baker Mayfield in 2017 and Kyler Murray in 2018. Riley was 55-10 in five seasons as Sooners’ coach, including places in the College Football Playoff in each of his first three seasons and Big 12 Conference championships in each of his first four.

Oklahoma (10-2), who came into the weekend in 10th place^th in the nation, fell to Oklahoma State 37-33 Saturday. Former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has been named interim head coach for the team’s upcoming bowl game.

Riley takes over a USC program that has won a Pac-12 Conference championship since Pete Carroll left after the 2009 season to coach the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.

With a record of 4-7 going into Saturday’s season finale against California, the Trojans have secured their second losing season in four seasons and third in 22 seasons.

Riley replaces Clay Helton, who was sacked on 13 September, two days after a 42-28 loss to Stanford. USC went 46-24 in four seasons under Helton.

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Donte Williams has served as interim coach since Helton’s dismissal. Williams coaches the team on Saturday against the Golden Bears.

“USC has an unrivaled football tradition with enormous resources and facilities, and the administration is deeply committed to winning,” Riley said in a press release issued by USC announcing his appointment. “I look forward to honoring the successful tradition and building on it.

Riley called leaving Oklahoma after five seasons as coach after two as offensive coordinator “probably the hardest decision of my life.”

“This was a personal decision based solely on my willingness to take on a new challenge, and I felt it was the right opportunity for me and my family to do so,” Riley said in a statement released by the University of Oklahoma.

The terms of the contract were not disclosed. Riley was scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles Monday morning.

USC Athletic Director Mike Bohn said Riley “is the rarest combination of extraordinary person and elite football coach.”

USC President Carol L. Folt called Riley “the perfect choice for our new head coach.”

“He is known for caring about the development and character of his players and for winning at the highest level,” Folt said in the press release. “Mike Bohn and I share a vision for the future of USC Athletics, and hiring coach Riley is a great statement of where we’re heading as a program.”

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(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All rights reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)

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