Oklahoma Football: Lincoln Riley wins Broyles Award

Oklahoma Sooners offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley won the Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant coach.

The first year in Norman, Oklahoma couldn’t have gone much better for Lincoln Riley who helped transform the offense of the Oklahoma Sooners that served as the catalyst for their Big 12 championship and berth in the College Football Playoff.

Riley was recognized for his work with the Oklahoma offense on Tuesday with the Broyles Award, given annually to the nation’s top assistant coach. Under Riley, Oklahoma finished with the nation’s No. 3 scoring offense, averaging 45.8 points per game, which was nearly 10 points more than last year’s average of 36.4.

Riley helped turn quarterback Baker Mayfield from a former walk-on into a player who was among the top five-six Heisman candidates down the stretch and brought some much-needed balance to the offense with running backs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon complementing Mayfield and the Sooner passing attack.

Oklahoma had the No. 17 passing offense and the No. 18 rushing offense this year, which is about as close to a balanced attack as you can get. Oklahoma also finished seventh in total offense.

Riley, 32, was hired away from East Carolina where he worked under Ruffin McNeill with the Pirates and helped turn Shane Carden into the program’s all-time leading passer and Justin Hardy set the FBS all-time record for receptions in a career.

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He was rumored to be a candidate for a head coaching position at South Carolina, but could have his choice of jobs this time next year if he has another stellar year leading the Oklahoma offense in 2016, when they’ll have Mayfield, Perine and Mixon all back.

Former Ohio State offensive coordinator and current Houston head coach Tom Herman won the Broyles Award last year.