By Bruce Feldman, Antonio Morales and Ralph Russo
UCF Inquires About Availability of USC Coach Lincoln Riley
UCF has inquired about the availability of USC coach Lincoln Riley as it searches for a replacement for Gus Malzahn, three people who have been privy to those conversations told The Athletic on Wednesday.
No Indication of Interest
There has been no indication Riley is interested in making the move, the people said. He is three seasons into a reported 10-year contract that pays him about $10 million per year.
Riley’s Contract a Major Obstacle
Riley’s contract is not publicly available because USC is a private school, but extracting him from Southern California — if he wanted to leave — would likely cost tens of millions of dollars for either the Trojans or the school looking to hire him away.
Representatives Reach Out to Riley’s Representatives
Representatives from UCF reached out to Riley’s representatives last weekend to inquire about his interest in making a move across the country, one source said. Any discussions about adjusting the terms of Riley’s contract would be between him and USC, sources said.
No Word from Riley’s Camp
The first source added that UCF has not received any word from Riley’s camp that he is interested in leaving USC, and the school is still looking at multiple candidates to fill its head coaching vacancy.
Firing Riley Would Cost USC $90 Million
Firing Riley, whose win total with the Trojans has decreased in each of his three seasons, would cost USC about $90 million, according to one of the sources. If Riley were to leave for another school, he would owe USC nothing. But UCF is not in position to replicate the deal Riley has at USC. Malzahn made $4 million in 2024 at UCF.
Riley’s Contract Would Need to be Adjusted
Two sources said even if Riley had an interest in making the move, it would require some payout of his current deal with USC to make up for what he would be giving up in the transition — like a professional sports trade where one team pays a chunk of a player’s remaining salary on a large contract and the receiving team picks up the rest.
Background on Riley’s Contract
Riley was hired at USC by former athletic director Mike Bohn, who resigned amid controversy in the spring of 2023. University president Carol Folt oversaw the hire as well and will retire this summer, which means two of the main parties involved in bringing Riley to USC will be gone.
Jen Cohen, the former Washington athletic director, was hired in August 2023 to lead the athletic department. She inherited Riley and his contract.
Conclusion
While UCF has inquired about Riley’s availability, there is no indication he is interested in leaving USC. Riley’s contract is a major obstacle, and it would likely cost tens of millions of dollars to extract him from Southern California. UCF will continue to look at multiple candidates to fill its head coaching vacancy.
FAQs
Q: Why is UCF interested in Lincoln Riley?
A: UCF is searching for a replacement for Gus Malzahn and is considering Riley as a potential candidate.
Q: Is Riley interested in leaving USC?
A: There is no indication Riley is interested in leaving USC, and he is three seasons into a reported 10-year contract.
Q: What would it cost to extract Riley from USC?
A: It would likely cost tens of millions of dollars for either the Trojans or the school looking to hire him away.
Q: What is the status of Riley’s contract?
A: Riley’s contract is not publicly available because USC is a private school, but it is reportedly a 10-year deal that pays him about $10 million per year.