USC coach Lincoln Riley was among those paying tribute to Mike Leach, who died Monday night. Leach’s vast coaching tree included Riley and many others.
USC coach Lincoln Riley has long credited Mike Leach for igniting his coaching career.
Riley, who has now coached three quarterbacks to Heisman Trophy wins, struggled to earn any playing time as a reserve Texas Tech quarterback. He knew the offense better than anyone else, but a shoulder injury he sustained his senior year at Muleshoe High limited his effectiveness throwing the ball. Riley was likely to be cut ahead of the 2003 season, so Leach asked the 19-year-old to join his coaching staff as a student assistant.
