No, Lincoln Riley hasn’t yet fired Alex Grinch, but the writing is on the wall. Riley likes Grinch and wanted to succeed at USC with Grinch at his side. However, you don’t always get what you want in life. Things don’t always go according to plan. Riley might have no choice in the matter. He might have to fire Grinch just because this season has been a disaster.
Lincoln Riley does not get paid a lot of money to go 8-4 and go to the Las Vegas Bowl or the Sun Bowl. In this business, coaches get fired. Head coaches have to fire underperforming assistants, including people they like.
Lincoln Riley, if he wants to win championships, will have to fire his friends. So, while Riley hasn’t yet fired Grinch, we have a list of candidates for a new defensive coordinator. He can think about this during the week of practice for Cal, the weakest team left on USC’s schedule.
Let’s see what you think, too: