Following the recent firing of East Carolina’s head coach Mike Houston, Clemson football’s offensive coordinator Garrett Riley has surfaced as a potential candidate for the position. Riley previously spent three seasons at ECU, starting as a graduate assistant in 2013 and 2014 before becoming the outside receivers coach in 2015 under former head coach Ruffin McNeil.
Given his ties to the program, it’s no surprise his name has been linked to the opening. However, when asked about the rumors on Wednesday, Riley brushed them aside. “I know chatter will happen at times,” Riley said. “But I am where my feet are.”
Riley emphasized that his focus remains fully on preparing Clemson for their upcoming game against Louisville, to the point where he was a few minutes late to his press conference due to game prep. “I was in a rabbit hole, and that is why I was a couple of minutes late here,” Riley explained. “Doing some red-zone and goal line.”
Now, in his second season as Clemson’s offensive coordinator, Riley had previously held the same role at TCU for one year. Could Riley make the jump after this season?
It’s possible, but it’s difficult to say how likely it is as college football is ever-changing. If the Tigers were to make a serious playoff run, bigger jobs could come calling.