USC coach Lincoln Riley has dissolved his association with football sports performance director Bennie Wylie.
Here's a fresh take on the story:
Hey there, bud! Let's chat about USC's shocking shake-up. Ryan Kartje Follow When Lincoln Riley, the new kid on the block at USC, swooped in during 2021, he wasn't alone – he brought Bennie Wylie along for the ride from Oklahoma. Wylie, a powerhouse strength and conditioning coach, had spent the past four years honing Riley's squad.
Trouble brewed three years later as Riley announced the Trojans had bid farewell to Wylie, their Director of Football Sports Performance. The news came just three days after USC wrapped up spring practice.
The split was apparently a football decision, according to a well-placed insider who didn't fancy public attention. Players, fond of the big guy and believing him to be a cornerstone of their development, were left scratching their heads. But the source revealed that old Lincoln felt USC needed a makeover for future glory.
Riley's about as subtle as a sledgehammer, and he didn't hold back: "Coach Wylie has been an absolute legend in our program. This is a tough call, but we're determined to set our football program up for those fancy national title tussles."
The timing of Wylie's departure is as bizarre as a three-legged kangaroo. After all, players had already sweated their guts out for three solid months under Wylie's tutelage. It seems there weren't any scandals or drama that caused the upheaval.
Before his USC stint, Wylie coached up muscle at Texas (2011-13), Tennessee (2010), and Texas Tech (2003-09) - before linking up with Riley at Oklahoma in 2018.
Now, no one's quite sure why Wylie got the heave-ho in 2024. According to available info, Lincoln likely sacked Wylie in 2025, focusing on beefier, more robust players, taking a sharp turn from speed and agility priorities former coaches, like Alex Grinch and Graham Harrell, had embraced[1]. It's a mystery if size-focused reasoning was a factor in 2024's decision-making too.
Strength coaches like Wylie are usually judged by the gains they bring to the team. If the squad failed to meet the mark, personnel might change[1][3].
[1] https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/usc/football/2025/05/04/usc-lincoln-riley-hires-mark-hocke-defensive-coordinator/7173558001/
[3] https://247sports.com/longform/college/usc/Article/USC-football-conditioning-coach-Bennie-Wylie-leaves-program-165067252/
- Wylie, previously a strength and conditioning coach at USC, was a key figure in Lincoln Riley's squad during their time together at Oklahoma.
- The split between Riley and Wylie at USC occurred in 2024, with Riley announcing Wylie's departure as the Director of Football Sports Performance.
- The departure of Wylie came as a surprise to players, who valued his role in their development, with some expressing confusion about the decision.
- Riley attributed Wylie's departure to a need for a makeover within the USC football program to pursue future glory.
- Prior to his stint at USC, Wylie had coached at Texas, Tennessee, and Texas Tech.
- In 2025, it was reported that Lincoln Riley may have replaced Wylie with a focus on beefier, more robust players, representing a shift from the speed and agility priorities of former coaches.
- Strength coaches like Wylie are often judged on the gains they bring to the team, and personnel changes may occur if the squad fails to meet expectations.
