The USC Trojans and Lincoln Riley have set out to create the best coaching staff in America. According to most, they have subjectively accomplished this, especially with the additions this made this offseason of Rob Ryan, Chad Savage, and Trovon Reed.
They have also completely revamped the front office, headlined by the hiring of general manager Chad Bowden.
With spring camp coming to an end and the spring transfer portal winding down, it appeared that the Trojans were set to head into the summer program with things set.
However, head coach Lincoln Riley just announced that the program would be parting ways with their Director of Football Sports Performance, Bennie Wylie.
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USC Trojans To Part Ways With Director Of Football Sports Performance Bennie Wylie
Wylie was entering his 4th season with the USC Trojans after coming over with Coach Riley from Oklahoma.
We are grateful for the many contributions Coach Wylie has made to our program throughout the last three seasons. He has been an outstanding role model to our young men. This is a difficult decision, but we are committed to positioning our football program to compete for national championships as we continue to move forward into the 2025 season and beyond.”
USC Head Coach Lincoln Riley
This move comes as a surprise, considering spring camp is over and we are just a few months away from the season. However, the timing of this has to make you think they already have a target in mind and a plan in place. I cannot see them making this move, this late, without a top contender potentially in place.
Wylie and Riley faced a good amount of scrutiny after the first two seasons of the Riley era, which saw USC get pushed around a bit by programs like Utah.
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They, along with DC Alex Grinch, employed the mindset of leaner, faster players. This was exposed in year two, and the Trojans failed to replicate the success of the 2022 season.
The philosophy was completely altered last offseason, and Wylie did a tremendous job in helping the program bulk up ahead of Big Ten play. The defense famously added 1200 pounds from the spring to the fall.
When Chad Bowden was hired as the GM, both he and Riley said that all decisions would be a collaborative effort, and the two would work together to make the best decisions for the USC Trojans. This is seemingly one of their first big decisions, and knowing how close Riley and Wylie are, you have to think that Bowden truly does have high influence.
This is a breaking news story, and we will send updates as more are made available.