Lincoln Riley has not loved the kind of success that USC hoped for in his first three seasons as the varsity’s head soccer coach, however he’s actually being compensated as if there are few people who find themselves higher on the job.
Riley made barely greater than $11.5 million through the 2023 season, in accordance with public paperwork that had been reviewed by Steve Berkowitz of USA Today. It had been reported that Riley turned one of many highest-paid coaches in faculty soccer when he was employed by USC forward of the 2022 season, however the tax return paperwork are the primary full take a look at Riley’s compensation.
Roughly $10.2 million of Riley’s compensation for 2023 was categorized as base pay, with one other $100,000 in incentives and $1.15 million labeled as “different reported compensation.” Riley additionally has a housing mortgage with a steadiness due of $3.43 million, although the steadiness is identical as the unique mortgage quantity.
Riley was listed as having $19.7 million in compensation in his first yr as the top coach at USC in 2022. The $4.5 million buyout USC paid to Oklahoma was handled as taxable earnings for Riley, although USC footed the invoice.
All of that could be a good distance of claiming Riley makes a ton of cash at USC. As Berkowitz notes, it’s believed that the $10.2 million base wage would make Riley the fourth-highest-paid coach in faculty soccer, although the salaries of coaches at personal universities are usually not made public.
USC is undoubtedly hoping for extra return on their funding going ahead. Riley is a disappointing 26-14 in three seasons with the varsity. The Trojans went 7-6 final yr. There was talk of other schools pursuing Riley, however the 41-year-old’s job seems secure for now.
If USC has one other disappointing yr in 2025 and doesn’t present enchancment, the requires Riley to be fired would possibly begin to change into tough for the Trojans to disregard.
