NORMAN, Okla. (AP) – Just three years ago, Lincoln Riley was the offensive coordinator at East Carolina.
Now, he’ll take the reins at Oklahoma, one of the most powerful programs in college football.
The 33-year-old Riley has stepped in for the retiring Bob Stoops and become the youngest head coach in the Bowl Championship Subdivision.
“As a young guy, as a coach, when you decide you’re going to do this, these are things you just dream about,” Riley said at a joint press conference with Stoops on Wednesday. “I feel like I’m honestly living a dream right now.”
Though he is young, he is experienced and has had remarkable success with his offenses. His teams set numerous records at East Carolina, and his success continued as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator. In 2015, he helped the Sooners rank fourth nationally in scoring and seventh in total offense. Quarterback Baker Mayfield finished fourth in the Heisman balloting, Riley won the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach and the Sooners reached the College Football Playoff.