College football coaching grades: Which school aced the hiring spree?
Lincoln Riley, USC: A
At the start of the weekend after Thanksgiving, the USC fan base was clinging to the hope that USC athletic director Mike Bohn could complete a deal for Iowa State coach Matt Campbell. Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell appeared to be staying put, rumors were circulating Baylor and Dave Aranda were working on an extension and, as the days went on without USC announcing Campbell, true trepidation was setting in among the faithful. Then came Sunday afternoon.
The Trojans shook the college football universe by announcing they had hired Lincoln Riley from Oklahoma, where he had led the Sooners to three College Football Playoff semifinal appearances and tutored two Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks. Given the misery of USC fans the past three years of the Helton era, Bohn could not have made a more thrilling statement that things were about to change for the better — and quickly.
Riley is a dogged recruiter known for closing commitments on both sides of the ball, and he is right to believe he can build the country’s most talented roster from right here in Southern California. Now the hard work begins, but there’s a strong sense Riley could make it look easy.
The only reason this grade isn’t an A+ is that L.A. is a town that pays attention only to championships, and Riley has yet to climb that mountain. The great news? He gets to keep trying to do it right here.
