Riley Steps up to the NFL
January 7, 1999
SAN DIEGO - Mike Riley got Oregon State headed back toward respectability, and now he'll try to do the same thing for the San Diego Chargers.
Riley, 45, signed a guaranteed five-year contract on Thursday, becoming the Chargers' fourth coach in four years. This is his first NFL job, and he inherits a team that hasn't had a winning record in three seasons. Riley will make $750,000 a year, more than five times his Oregon State salary of $135,000.
Riley was 8-14 in two seasons at Oregon State, which one of his predecessors called "a coach's graveyard." The same might be said of the Chargers, who were 5-11 in 1998.
Riley said he took the job for the same reason he left his job as Southern Cal's offensive coordinator to take the Oregon State job in December 1996.
"There's a great opportunity to improve and to work to get better, get more wins. That's what we're all after," said Riley, who grew up in Corvallis, Ore., home to Oregon State. "I decided that this may be the greatest opportunity in my career, and one that I'd really like to try. So I took that opportunity."
Riley was introduced at a news conference under a big white party tent set up right next to the swimming pool at the Chargers' practice complex. Only three players attended. Troubled quarterback Ryan Leaf wasn't among them, but Riley said he met Leaf earlier.
Owner Alex Spanos said he's never been as impressed with a coach as he was when he first met Riley 10 days ago in Palm Springs, Calif.
Riley soon learned of Spanos' famous impatience when the owner said: "Mike Riley, we're looking to you to take us back to the Super Bowl."
The Chargers' lone Super Bowl appearance was four years ago, and they've gone 26-39 since.
"I truly think this is a great fit for me, and I'm very appreciative of these guys believing that I can do it," Riley said. "I'm anxious to do that."
Riley followed his father, Bud, into coaching and has known San Diego general manager Bobby Beathard for years, even coaching his son, Jeff, in the Canadian Football League.
Riley had a two-day interview with the Chargers that included meeting with the assistant coaches, many of them remaining at Beathard's insistence. Among them are those who coached the NFL's top-ranked defense, plus Joe Bugel (offensive line) and Ollie Wilson (running backs).
Riley said he'll probably hire four coaches from outside the organization, including an offensive coordinator-quarterbacks coach.
"It's workable," he said of inheriting so many assistants. "I need NFL experience on this staff."
The Chargers have no first-round draft picks until 2001. Leaf, who got an $11.25 million signing bonus as the second pick in last year's draft, was a bust on the field and a problem off it. Interim coach June Jones left for the University of Hawaii.
Riley most likely is the last head coach to be hired by Beathard, who turns 62 later this month and recently got a two-year contract extension through 2001.
Beathard said he singled out Riley to Chargers president Dean Spanos long ago as a possible candidate. After the disastrous 6-16 tenure of Kevin Gilbride, who was fired Oct. 13, Beathard wanted to hire someone he was familiar with.
"You can call anybody who's ever been associated with Mike Riley and find out quickly what type of person he is," Beathard said. "As good a person as he is, he's equally as good a football coach. I've got a very, very strong gut feeling about Mike."
As he was doing background checks, Beathard said he was told by many that Riley was the best-kept secret in college football.
"I'm sure it's surprising for a lot of people," Riley said of his hiring. "I appreciate their faith in me. This whole thing is kind of a surprise to me."
Riley said he's confident the Chargers can turn it around because of the number of close games they played and because the team played hard even though it was out of the playoffs.
"I've heard great things about the character of this team and how hard they played, and that is a great starting point for any coach."
Riley comes highly regarded as a smart coach and a good person.
"That's my man. I think he is a good coach, very creative," said New York Jets wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, who played at USC when Riley was the Trojans' offensive coordinator. "He helped me become the No. 1 pick. He recognizes talent, I do know that."
The Chargers think Riley can develop Leaf, who was benched after nine games because of poor play and his off-field antics.
"He can work with any football player," Beathard said.
Riley was head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the pass-happy CFL from 1987-90, won two Grey Cups and was named the league's coach of the year each time. He was at USC from 1993-96.
Oregon State was 5-6 last fall, its best record since 1971.
Riley said he also was contacted by the Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears.
By BERNIE WILSON
AP Sports Writer
