In explaining his unexpected retirement Wednesday, Oklahoma’s all-time winningest coach, Bob Stoops, said the primary reason he felt comfortable stepping down after 18 seasons was that “the right guy is right here, right now.”
That right guy is 33-year-old Lincoln Riley, Stoops’ acclaimed offensive coordinator over the past two seasons, with whom the Oklahoma brass is universally enamored.
“He is widely regarded as one of the brightest minds in college football, and there is no question in my mind that he is the complete package,” said Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione.
“I have no doubts we made the right choice,” school president David Boren said of Riley.