USC, Lincoln Riley Make Major Staff Change After Disappointing Season

It’s a new chapter for Lincoln Riley and USC — and it starts in the weight room.After a disappointing 2024 season that saw the Trojans fall well short of College Football Playoff expectations, USC is parting ways with Director of Football Sports Performance Bennie Wylie. The move, confirmed on Tuesday, marks a significant shift in Riley’s trusted inner circle.

Wylie has been by Riley’s side for years. The two first connected during their days at Texas Tech under Mike Leach, where Wylie worked as the strength coach. Later, he followed Riley to Oklahoma, helping the Sooners win three straight Big 12 titles and make back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances in 2018 and 2019.



When Riley made the high-profile move to USC in late 2021, Wylie came along to run the Trojans' strength and conditioning program. Now, after four seasons in L.A.

, that partnership is ending.The decision to part ways with Wylie comes after USC concluded the 2024 season with a 6-6 regular-season record, capped by a Las Vegas Bowl victory over Texas A&M. USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley.

Gary A Vasquez-Imagn Images"We are grateful for the many contributions Coach Wylie has made to our program throughout the last three seasons," Riley said in a statement. "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.

"The search for a new Director of Football Sports Performance is underway, with the goal of bringing in leadership that aligns with USC's aspirations for national prominence.​Related: Duke Receives Major Transfer Portal News on MondayRelated: Brother of Duke Basketball Star Gets Massive Recruiting Bump.