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The job of head soccer coach at Southern California continues to be a vacation spot gig.
Lincoln Riley has proved as a lot.
The previous Oklahoma Sooners coach, who changed nationwide champion Bob Stoops on the age of 33, will now lead the Trojans after 5 years in Norman.
As lately as Saturday, Riley’s identify had been linked to different jobs, and he flatly denied his curiosity within the LSU Tigers’ opening after his workforce’s loss to rival Oklahoma State, 37-33, in “Bedlam.”
However Sunday his transfer to USC and the Pac-12 turned official.
“Leaving OU was proablby essentially the most troublesome resolution of my life,” Riley mentioned in an announcement launched by Oklahoma. “OU is without doubt one of the finest school soccer applications within the nation, and it has been ceaselessly. That is not going to alter. It is not going to alter within the SEC, it is not going to alter with one other head coach.
“This was a private resolution solely primarily based on my willingness to go tackle a brand new problem, and I felt prefer it was the best alternative for me and my household to to do this.”
USC has been in line for a brand new coach since firing Clay Helton midway via this 12 months after a middling seven seasons. Donte Williams has been serving because the interim coach.
Riley’s run at Oklahoma featured 4 Large 12 titles and three appearances within the Faculty Soccer Playoff. All of these postseasons ended with losses within the semifinals, the primary to Georgia in 2017 throughout an epic Rose Bowl, and a pair of blowouts to Alabama (2018) and in addition LSU (2019).
OPINION: Riley to USC was a no brainer. He avoids SEC mayhem, has shot at a championship.
COACHES’ SALARIES: Try what school soccer coaches are making
Oklahoma will likely be dealing with these groups frequently as a future member of the Southeastern Convention, however Riley won’t be with them. Total, Riley went 55-10 in 5 years. He additionally coached back-to-back Heisman Trophy winners in quarterbacks Baker Mayfield (2017) and Kyler Murray (2018), each of whom went on to grow to be No. 1 draft picks within the NFL.
Riley will likely be owed a $4.5 million buyout. His wage with the Sooners paid him $7.6 million per 12 months via Jan. 31, 2026. Phrases of his contract with the Trojans weren’t instantly out there.
Contributing: Steve Berkowitz
Observe USA TODAY Sports activities’ Dan Wolken on Twitter @DanWolken. Observe Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Lincoln Riley to be new USC soccer coach, leaving Oklahoma
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