USC is reportedly finalizing a deal with Oklahoma football coach Lincoln Riley to become the Trojans’ next coach, it was reported Sunday.
USC Sports Information Director Tim Tessalone would not confirm the Los Angeles Times report, which cited a source with knowledge of the search not authorized to speak publicly.
“We haven’t announced anything yet,” Tessalone told City News Service on Sunday.
The Times story said Riley had agreed to terms to become the school’s 30th head football coach.
The Trojans, mired in a disappointing 4-7 season, have been searching for their next head coach since Athletic Director Mike Bohn fired Clay Helton on Sept. 13. Associate head coach Donte Williams had filled in since then on an interim basis.
Riley would be a surprise hire. Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell, Baylor’s Dave Aranda, Penn State’s James Franklin and Iowa State’s Matt Campbell were the names most often linked to the Trojans job in media speculation over the last couple months.
But Riley would bring impressive credentials and a prominent national reputation to Los Angeles. He is 45-8 as Oklahoma’s head coach, with four College Football Playoff appearances and four Big 12 championships in his four full seasons at Norman. The Sooners are 10-2 this season.
Prior to taking the Sooners head coaching job in June 2017, Riley was an assistant coach at Texas Tech, East Carolina and Oklahoma.
He is 38 years old.