Lincoln Riley to join Oklahoma as their new OC
Sources reported that Oklahoma are trying to finish a deal that would see East Carolina OC Lincoln Riley get the same role on the staff of Bob Stoops, and bookmaker software services believe that he could be a key element for the team to make it very far next season .
A 31-year-old Riley, who was Mike Leach’s student, and who in 1999 was the first OC that Stoops had with the Sooners, is seen as one of the rising offensive minds in the sport, calling the plays for the offense of East Carolina – one that this season had a ranking of fifth place in the nation in their total offense, so it is believed that his addition to the Sooners could prove to be of great benefit.
Since 2010, he was the East Carolina Pirates’ OC, coach of the QB’s, as well as an associate head coach. This season, East Carolina were leading the AAC in yards-per-play, with 6.48, total yards-per-game, with 533, and a 47.4% conversion rate in the third down.
Before that happened, Riley was working at Texas Tech as Leach’s assistant, in the school where from 2007 to 2009 he was coaching the WR’s. After Leach’s suspension for the Alamo Bowl in 2009, Ruffin McNeill – interim coach – sent Riley to call the plays when the Red Raiders beat the Michigan State Spartans 41-31.
A few weeks after this, McNeill got the job as East Carolina’s head coach, and Riley joined him as the OC for the Pirates.
Riley will be the one to step in for Josh Heupel, who ended up being fired from the team after what proved to be an upsetting 8-5 season for Oklahoma. For the last 4 seasons, Heupel, who was able to lead Oklahoma to the national championship in 2000, was the play-caller for the Sooners.
Oklahoma also want to get the services of a WR coach after Jay Norvell left the team, and many fans would like to see who will be the one to take this position.
News of the Sooners’ plans to acquire Riley was first reported by Oklahoma City’s KWTV News 9.
Oklahoma’s fans believe that the team is making a very wise decision to acquire Riley’s services, as it could seriously help them accomplish a lot in the next college football season, and bookmaker software services can’t wait to see how the Sooners will do with the OC among their ranks.
