Oklahoma football: Lincoln Riley received two-year contract extension

NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 9: Head Coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners talks with his coordinators against the Iowa State Cyclones late in the fourth quarter on November 9, 2019 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. OU held on to win 42-41. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 9: Head Coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners talks with his coordinators against the Iowa State Cyclones late in the fourth quarter on November 9, 2019 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. OU held on to win 42-41. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

It appears the NFL’s interest in luring Oklahoma football coach Lincoln Riley will have to wait a while longer after the Sooner head coach this week received a ‘two-year extension to his current contract.

According to multiple media reports, Riley’s contract has been extended through the 2025 season at an average annual value of $7.5 million. The extension was approved Tuesday by the OU Board of Regents.

According to the USA Today’s coaches salary database, Riley’s 2019 salary of $6.38 million ranked him ninth among FBS football coaches.

Riley’s offensive genius and success as a head coach at Oklahoma the past three seasons has heightened the interest of NFL general managers who have seen how that same, new-age offensive creativity is paying dividends in the modern NFL.

“It’s important for us to keep our commitment,” said Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione told reporters, including Ryan Aber of The Oklahoman. “Most importantly, it allows Oklahoma, our program and out fans to have the certainty that our coaches our connected to us for an extended period of time.”

The Board of Regents also approved extensions and pay raises for all of the Sooners’ returning assistant coaches through Jan. 31, 2021. Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch’s contract extension goes a year longer. Grinch will receive a $400,000 increase to $1.8 million. The Sooners’ defense made marked statistical improvement in Grinch’s first season at OU, bettering its national ranking in total defense from 114th in 2018 to 38th last season.

Riley’s contract extension does not preclude him from finding a way to get around it and take an NFL job if that is something he truly wants to do, but it doe not appear that is where the 36-year-ol head coach’s interest or focus is right now and for the immediate future. He seems to be having too much fun right where he is.

The record speaks for itself: A 36-6 three-year record as OU’s head coach, three consecutive Big 12 championships (and likely another one this year) and three straight College Football Playoff appearances, and two Heisman winners (2017 and ’18) and a Heisman runner-up (2019). The Sooners have led the nation in yards per play all three season’s Riley has been the head coach.

Riley has proven that he is a master working with quarterbacks. All you have to do is look at what Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts were able to achieve under Riley’s tutelage. Those results are a huge reason why Oklahoma was able to recruit Spencer Rattler and Caleb Williams, the No. 1 quarterbacks in two of the last three national recruiting classes, presumably setting the Sooners up a quarterback for the next three to four years.

Oklahoma is set to open preseason training camp on Aug. 3 in preparation for the scheduled season opener with Missouri State in Aug. 29.