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Coach Riley Central

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The University of Nebraska has hired Mike Riley as its new Head Football Coach, Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst announced Thursday, December 4, 2014.

Riley comes to Nebraska after 14 seasons as the head coach at Oregon State University, spanning two different tenures in Corvallis. Riley has led OSU to 93 wins and a 6-2 record in postseason bowl games. In addition to his time at Oregon State, Riley has served as the head coach of the San Diego Chargers, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League, with whom he won two Grey Cup Championships, and the San Antonio Riders in the World Football League. He has served as an assistant coach at California, USC, Linfield College, Whitworth and Northern Colorado as well as with the New Orleans Saints and in the Canadian Football League.

Riley is a native of Idaho and a graduate of the University of Alabama, where he played for Paul "Bear"? Bryant and won three SEC titles and one National Championship.

Mike and his wife, Dee, have two children, Matthew and Kate, and one grandchild, Eli.

Mike will assume his duties immediately but will not coach the Huskers in the upcoming bowl game as Interim Head Coach Barney Cotton will coach the team through the bowl.

Coach Riley's Bio Watch the Press Conference Multimedia Who's Mike Riley?

About Coach Riley

One of the most respected coaches in football, Mike Riley was named the head coach of the Nebraska football program on Dec. 4.

It is truly an honor to join the University of Nebraska family. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to coach at one of the nation’s most storied football programs and I can’t wait to get started. My sincere thanks to Chancellor Perlman and Shawn Eichorst for their confidence in me and I look forward to becoming a part of the Nebraska family and building upon the great history and tradition.

Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst said Riley is the perfect fit to lead the tradition-rich Nebraska program.

"There was one coach who fit all the characteristics that I was seeking to lead our tradition rich football program. Mike Riley has a proven record of success, a sound approach to football and teaching, an understanding of the educational mission of our university and the integrity and values that we cherish at Nebraska. I have no doubt that Mike will assemble a tremendous staff and lead our student-athletes to win Big Ten titles and compete for national championships in the years ahead."

Riley takes over the Husker football program following the past 12 seasons as the head coach at Oregon State, and 14 seasons overall in Corvallis. Riley also has experience at the highest level of football, serving as the head coach of the San Diego Chargers for three seasons, while also spending time in the Canadian Football League and the World Football League.

In his time at Oregon State, Riley built the Beaver program into a consistent winner and regular contender in the Pac-12 Conference. Riley has a 93-80 overall record as the Beavers' head coach. Riley began the rejuvenation of the Oregon State program in his two-year stint in 1997 and 1998. He returned to Corvallis and has led the Beavers to unprecedented heights in the past 12 years.

See what others are saying about Coach Riley

Riley has a tradition of being one of the most professional and nicest men in the profession, but his coaching acumen also speaks volumes. Riley owns the most wins ever at Oregon State with 93, while leading the program to eight bowl appearances. Oregon State was ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 for 28 weeks, and Riley has coached players who have earned 32 All-American honors. Riley has had 32 NFL Draft picks, including first-round selections Steven Jackson (2004) and Brandin Cooks (2014).

Before accepting the Nebraska job, Riley was the longest tenured coach in the Pac-12 and had the seventh-longest coaching tenure of any head coach in the FBS ranks. His resume sparkles with coaching achievements.

Riley was the 2008 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Pac-10 Conference and State of Oregon Coach of the Year, and his teams have appeared in the final Associated Press top-25 rankings three times in the past eight season. In 2012 he was selected the AFCA Region Coach of the Year.

The 61-year-old Riley posted a 6-2 record in bowl games with the Beavers. Riley built the foundation for Oregon State in his first two years on the campus in 1997 and 1998. Riley took over a program that was mired in a streak of 26 consecutive losing seasons and quickly changed the culture in Corvallis. After Riley departed for the NFL, Oregon State made three postseason appearances.

Click here to read Mike Riley's full bio

Mike and his wife Dee are the parents of one son, Matthew, and one daughter, Kate. They also have a grandson, Elijah Jo. Matthew is an OSU graduate and is currently an employee at the University of Texas. Kate is a 2011 OSU graduate and also resides in Corvallis.

Mike has two brothers; Edward Riley is a physician and Associate Professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Pete Riley is a scientist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

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Riley's Coaching Experience Coaching Experience

1975 California, Graduate Assistant (Defense)
1976 Whitworth College, Graduate Assistant
1977-82 Linfield College, Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
1983-85 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL), Secondary Coach
1986 Northern Colorado, Defensive Coordinator
1987-90 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL), Head Coach
1991-92 San Antonio Riders (WLAF), Head Coach
1993-96 USC, Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
1997-98 Oregon State, Head Coach
1999-2001 San Diego Chargers, Head Coach
2002 New Orleans Saints, Assistant Head Coach/Secondary
2003-14 Oregon State, Head Coach

Head Coaching Record Oregon State career record: 93-80 (14 seasons)

1997-98: 8-14 (2 seasons)
2003-14: 85-66 (12 seasons); 8 bowl appearances (6-2)

San Diego Chargers

1999-2001: 14-34 (3 seasons)

San Antonio Riders

1991-92: 11-9 (2 seasons)

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

1987-90: 40-32 (4 seasons); 2 Grey Cup Championships