A favorite of the SEC and all-star New Orleans radio hosts – and coach of the Oklahoma Sooners – Riley’s stated he’s staying put in Norman for the foreseeable future.
Riley, who this month signed a six-year, $12 million extension with the Sooners, talked up a lot in his initial press availability since taking the LSU job.
“I’m really excited and really honored and humbled, all of the emotions you can have, to be in that position.
“It was something we all committed to do together, it was something we put a ton of time and energy and effort into and to be rewarded for it is just what we all signed up for.”
Riley, 33, told reporters he never questioned if he made the right decision to return to Norman.
“We never really really had that question, as a family, or as an organization,” he said. “I’m super proud of my time at Oklahoma and we’re happy and excited to be here.”
He wasn’t willing to say just yet whether he will remain at OU for the long term – but he’s not taking the LSU job “off the table.”
“It’s too early to speculate on any of that stuff,” he said. “I’m certainly excited to coach in this environment and am excited to see what the next few months are gonna bring.
“I’m not going to be the next coach at LSU. I love Oklahoma. We love our players, our administration, our fans, our players and I have so much respect for Les Miles.”
Riley, who was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, and began his coaching career at Northwestern State, said his mother grew up two towns away from LSU and his father played there as a safety and defensive back.
Riley’s sister and his father and mother were alumni of LSU.
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