The USC Trojans and Lincoln Riley surprised everyone earlier this week when they announced that they were moving on from Director of Football Sports Performance Bennie Wylie.
Wylie was one of the first coaches who came with Lincoln Riley to USC from Oklahoma. The two have been tied together for quite some time, and Riley has entrusted Wylie with getting the program better prepared for Big Ten play.
Outside of a statement from Coach Riley, we do not know much about why the program decided to move, and at this point and time, right after spring camp.
While the timing seems odd, it actually makes more sense considering the team is primarily off during the month of May while most of the coaches are out on the recruiting trail.
However, to make a move of this nature this late in the offseason, one has to think that the Trojans had a plan in place and had a top target already in mind.
***Update
Pete Thamel of ESPN is reporting that Owings will stay at Indiana after signing a new 3-year deal with a significant pay raise. USC will continue its search to fill the position.
Sources: Indiana Strength coach Derek Owings is staying at IU after signing a three-year deal with a big pay raise. USC made a strong push for him, but IU keeps a key piece of the program’s success.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) May 2, 2025
Indiana’s Derek Owings A Top Target For USC Trojans
According to Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports, Indiana’s Director of Sport Performance, Derek Owings, has emerged as a top target for the opening at USC.
Owings has been an integral part of Curt Cignetti’s staff at both Indiani and at James Madison. He is widely considered one of the top strength coaches in college football.
You can argue that the strength and conditioning coach is one of the most important staff positions, so making the right hire will be essential for Riley and GM Chad Bowden.
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Owings has had a hand in his programs going 49-9 in five seasons, and has helped train 23 All-American selections and 27 first-team all-conference picks.
Last year, LB Aiden Fisher was named first-team All-America, while defensive lineman Mikail Kamara and defensive back D’Angelo Ponds both earned second-team honors.
Before joining Cignetti at JMU, Owings spent time at Central Florida and Texas Tech.
This is a developing story, and we will continue to update.