South Carolina Coaching Search: Oklahoma assistant Lincoln Riley a candidate
With Kirby Smart off the market the South Carolina coaching search is expanding to include Oklahoma offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley.
The South Carolina Gamecocks are having to go deeper down their wish list of coaching candidates as athletic director Ray Tanner searches to fill the position left open by Steve Spurrier’s resignation mid-season.
With Tom Herman agreeing in principle to a new deal to stay at Houston and Kirby Smart leaving Alabama after the SEC Championship Game to take the Georgia job, South Carolina’s top two options are off the table.
Now, South Carolina has reportedly expressed interest in Oklahoma offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley, according to ESPN’s Chris Low and they plan to talk about the job.
Riley, 32, is in his first year as the Sooners offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach since leaving East Carolina where he coached for five years. Riley was arguably the best coaching hire in the offseason and helped guide the Sooners to the No. 3 scoring offense in the nation, a Big 12 title, likely berth in the College Football Playoff and turned walk-on quarterback Baker Mayfield into a Heisman candidate.
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He would be the youngest head coach in the FBS and doesn’t come with previous head coaching experience, but the upside could be too much for South Carolina to turn him aside. Should Riley be offered and accept the job, it would create an interesting timeline should he leave the team before the playoff.
If Oklahoma had to play without Riley in the playoff, it would hurt the Sooners’ chances against teams like Alabama and Clemson, especially, who have great defenses.
Oklahoma has a well-balanced offense with Mayfield and Sterling Shepard leading the passing attack with Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon leading the rushing attack that’s averaged more than 300 yards per game during the team’s seven-game win streak.
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Former Florida head coach and current Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp is also a candidate for the job.