Mike Riley
Encyclopedia
Michael Joseph "Mike" Riley (born July 6, 1953) is an American football
coach, currently the head coach
of the Oregon State Beavers
of the Pacific-12 Conference. Riley has also coached in several professional leagues, and is a former head coach of the San Diego Chargers
of the NFL
and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
of the CFL
.
coach, Riley was born in Wallace
, Idaho
, and spent his first dozen years in northern
Idaho
. The family moved from Wallace down to Lewiston
in 1959 and up to Moscow
in 1962, when his father, Bud Riley
, became a collegiate assistant coach for his alma mater
, the Idaho Vandals
, under new head coach Dee Andros
. After three seasons on the Palouse
, Andros was hired at Oregon State and Bud Riley joined him in Corvallis
in 1965 as his defensive coordinator
for eight seasons.
Riley was a hometown hero in Corvallis from his athletic days at Corvallis High, where led the Spartans as the starting quarterback
to consecutive state title games in 1969 and 1970. CHS came up short against Medford
in 1969, 27–0, but avenged the loss the following season when they met Medford again and came out victorious 21–10. As the son of a coach, Riley had a peripatetic youth; he considers the college town of Corvallis his hometown, where he went to junior high and high school.
Riley graduated from CHS in 1971 and played college football
for the Alabama Crimson Tide
under legendary head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant
. In his four seasons at Alabama as a defensive back
, he helped the Tide to four SEC
titles and the 1973 UPI (Coaches' Poll) national championship, though the Tide went winless in all four bowl games.
at California
in 1975, and then as a graduate assistant at Whitworth
in Spokane
, where he received his master's in physical education
.
In 1977, he was hired as the defensive coordinator
and secondary coach
at Linfield College
in McMinnville, Oregon
. During his stay at Linfield he assisted head coach Ad Rutschman
’s Wildcats to a six-year record of 52–7–1, which included five conference titles and an undefeated NAIA Division II championship
season in 1982.
Riley was the head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
of the CFL
from 1987–1990 and won two Grey Cup
s during his tenure. He also coached the San Antonio Riders
of the defunct WLAF
. He was hired to coach the San Antonio Texans
of the CFL in 1993
, but the team folded before it could begin play.
He returned to the college ranks in 1993 when USC head coach John Robinson offered him the position of offensive coordinator
and quarterbacks coach
; he later became assistant head coach. The Mesa Tribune
named him the league’s top assistant coach in 1993 after leading the Trojan offense to record setting numbers. USC quarterback Rob Johnson earned numerous Pac-10 and NCAA records under Riley's tutelage and would later become a fourth-round NFL Draft
pick. "He's a player's coach, who gets the most out of you by treating you like normal," Johnson later said.
Riley remained at USC through the 1996 season, helping the Trojans to victories in the Rose, Cotton, and Freedom
Bowls. USC won an outright league title, shared another, and finished second once.
in 1997 to replace Jerry Pettibone
. In the Beavers' first season under Riley, they posted a record of 3–8. This was a difficult season for Riley as he attempted to run his NFL-style offense with players recruited by Pettibone to run the wishbone triple-option. The 1998 season was another big step in the right direction, with the Beavers posting a 5–6 record, their best record since 1971. The 1998 season was capped off by a double-overtime 44–41 win over the Oregon Ducks
in the Civil War
game.
Although his first stint with the Beavers only lasted two seasons, Riley is considered, by FSN commentators, to have laid the foundation for the success of the Beavers in the years to come. The 1999 team, led by Dennis Erickson
, posted a 7–5 record and earned a trip to the Oahu Bowl
, ending a record 28 season streak of sub .500 seasons.
of the NFL
. Riley coached the Chargers from 1999 to 2001, with a record of 14–34. His last game was indicative of his last season, as the Chargers played well, but one poor play turned the tide. The 2001 Chargers ended their season with a loss to the Seattle Seahawks
, after Doug Flutie
passed for 377 yards and drove for the tying field goal with 16 seconds remaining, but poor special teams play led to a long Seahawks kick return and subsequently a 54-yard winning field goal
.
Riley was fired as head coach of the Chargers after three seasons and was an assistant coach with the New Orleans Saints
in 2002. He was offered the Alabama
job in December 2002 after Dennis Franchione
left for Texas A&M
. Riley was also under consideration for the UCLA
job during that period. After spending one season with the Saints, Riley returned to Corvallis to become the head coach at Oregon State in 2003 following Erickson's departure to San Francisco
of the NFL.
and 2004 before having a down year in 2005
.
After starting the 2006
season 2–3, the Beavers went 9–4 on the regular season, including an upset of #3 USC in Corvallis. The Beavers completed their impressive season with a win over Missouri
in the Sun Bowl
in El Paso, Texas
, ending their season with a 10–4 record.
In 2007
, the Beavers again started 2–3 and finished 8–4 on the regular season, including an upset of #2 Cal
in Berkeley
. The Beavers finished the year 9–4 with a win in the Emerald Bowl
in San Francisco over the Maryland Terrapins
.
In 2008
Riley's Beavers knocked off #1-ranked USC 27–21 at Reser Stadium
. The Beavers went into the Civil War with a chance to reach the Rose Bowl
as Pac-10 champions but were defeated by Oregon
, 65–38, and instead accepted another invitation to the third place Sun Bowl
, where they beat Pittsburgh
in a defensive struggle, 3–0.
Though winless in bowl games as a player, Riley has a 5–1 NCAA football bowl record as a head coach, having won the 2003 Las Vegas Bowl
, 2004 Insight Bowl
, 2006 Sun Bowl
, 2007 Emerald Bowl
, and 2008 Sun Bowl
. Riley is a combined 8–1 in bowl games as a head or assistant coach. In the 2009 Las Vegas Bowl
, the Beavers lost to the BYU Cougars
of the Mountain West Conference
.
In Riley's second stint at OSU, the Beavers have produced three current NFL quarterbacks, Sean Canfield
, Matt Moore
, and Derek Anderson
.
Following the 2009
season, Riley was rumored to be up for the USC vacancy created by the resignation of Pete Carroll
. Those rumors were put to rest when Riley signed a three-year extension at OSU through the 2019 season.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach, currently the head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the Oregon State Beavers
Oregon State Beavers football
The Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in NCAA Division I-A college football. The team first fielded an organized football team in 1893 and is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The head coach is Mike Riley, with Danny Langsdorf as the offensive...
of the Pacific-12 Conference. Riley has also coached in several professional leagues, and is a former head coach of the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
of the CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
.
Early life and playing career
The son of a high school footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
coach, Riley was born in Wallace
Wallace, Idaho
Wallace is a historic city in the Panhandle region of the U.S. state of Idaho and the county seat of Shoshone County in the Silver Valley mining district...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, and spent his first dozen years in northern
Idaho Panhandle
The Idaho Panhandle is the northern region of the U.S. State of Idaho that encompasses the ten northernmost counties of Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, Shoshone. Residents of the panhandle refer to the region as North Idaho...
Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. The family moved from Wallace down to Lewiston
Lewiston, Idaho
Lewiston is a city in and also the county seat of Nez Perce County in the Pacific Northwest state of Idaho. It is the second-largest city in the northern Idaho region, behind Coeur d'Alene and ninth-largest in the state. Lewiston is the principal city of the Lewiston, ID - Clarkston, WA...
in 1959 and up to Moscow
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
in 1962, when his father, Bud Riley
Bud Riley
Edward "Bud" Riley is an American former football coach with the Idaho Vandals, Oregon State Beavers, and in the Canadian Football League...
, became a collegiate assistant coach for his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, the Idaho Vandals
Idaho Vandals football
The Idaho Vandals are a college football team that represents the University of Idaho. The Vandals currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I...
, under new head coach Dee Andros
Dee Andros
Demosthenes Konstandies "Dee" Andrecopoulos was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator in the United States. He served as the head football coach at the University of Idaho from 1962 to 1964 and at Oregon State University from 1965 to 1975, compiling career...
. After three seasons on the Palouse
Palouse
The Palouse is a region of the northwestern United States, encompassing parts of southeastern Washington, north central Idaho and, in some definitions, extending south into northeast Oregon. It is a major agricultural area, primarily producing wheat and legumes...
, Andros was hired at Oregon State and Bud Riley joined him in Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
in 1965 as his defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for eight seasons.
Riley was a hometown hero in Corvallis from his athletic days at Corvallis High, where led the Spartans as the starting quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
to consecutive state title games in 1969 and 1970. CHS came up short against Medford
North Medford High School
North Medford High School is a public high school in Medford, Oregon, United States. It is part of Medford School District, and its mascot is the Black Tornado. It is the only school in America with the Black Tornado as a mascot.- History :...
in 1969, 27–0, but avenged the loss the following season when they met Medford again and came out victorious 21–10. As the son of a coach, Riley had a peripatetic youth; he considers the college town of Corvallis his hometown, where he went to junior high and high school.
Riley graduated from CHS in 1971 and played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama Crimson Tide football, 1970–1979
The 1970s were the most successful in the history of the Alabama football program. During the decade the teams won 3 national championships and dominated the SEC in an unprecedented manner, winning 8 titles in 10 years. The school posted back to back undefeated regular seasons in 1973 and 1974 and...
under legendary head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant
Bear Bryant
Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships...
. In his four seasons at Alabama as a defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
, he helped the Tide to four SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
titles and the 1973 UPI (Coaches' Poll) national championship, though the Tide went winless in all four bowl games.
Coaching career
Riley began his coaching career immediately after his playing days ended, first as a graduate assistantGraduate assistant
A graduate assistant is a position who serves in a support role at a university, usually while completing post-graduate education. The individual typically assists professors or with instructional responsibilities as teaching assistants, coaches with an athletic team, or university department...
at California
California Golden Bears football
The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to...
in 1975, and then as a graduate assistant at Whitworth
Whitworth University
Whitworth University is a private Christian liberal arts college located in Spokane, Washington, United States, that offers Bachelor's and Master's degrees in a variety of academic disciplines. It is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church...
in Spokane
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, where he received his master's in physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
.
In 1977, he was hired as the defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
and secondary coach
Defensive backs coach
A defensive backs coach or secondary coach is a coach in charge of the safeties and cornerbacks in gridiron football. This position is very common in the CFL, NFL and college football programs. Some common titles are: safeties coach, cornerbacks coach, secondary coach, secondary/safeties coach,...
at Linfield College
Linfield College
Linfield College is an American private institution of higher learning located in McMinnville, Oregon, United States. As a four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts and sciences college with a campus in Portland, Oregon, it also has an adult degree program located in eight communities throughout the...
in McMinnville, Oregon
McMinnville, Oregon
McMinnville is the county seat and largest city of Yamhill County, Oregon, United States. According to Oregon Geographic Names, it was named by its founder, William T. Newby , an early immigrant on the Oregon Trail, for his hometown of McMinnville, Tennessee...
. During his stay at Linfield he assisted head coach Ad Rutschman
Ad Rutschman
Ad Rutschman is an American coach of football and baseball in the state of Oregon. He was a head football coach for 24 seasons, head baseball coach for 13 seasons, and served as athletic director for 25 years at Linfield College. He is the first athletic director emeritus in the history of the...
’s Wildcats to a six-year record of 52–7–1, which included five conference titles and an undefeated NAIA Division II championship
NAIA national football championship
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Football National Championship is decided by a post-season playoff system featuring the best NAIA college football teams in the United States. Under sponsorship of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the championship game has...
season in 1982.
Riley was the head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
of the CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
from 1987–1990 and won two Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
s during his tenure. He also coached the San Antonio Riders
San Antonio Riders
The San Antonio Riders were a professional American football team that played in the WLAF in 1991 and 1992. The team played in the Alamo Stadium in 1991 and then were forced to move to Bobcat Stadium on the campus of Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, 45 miles northeast of San...
of the defunct WLAF
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
. He was hired to coach the San Antonio Texans
San Antonio Texans
The San Antonio Texans were a Canadian Football League team that played in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, in the 1995 CFL season. They had relocated from Sacramento, California, where the team had been called the Sacramento Gold Miners...
of the CFL in 1993
1993 CFL season
The 1993 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 40th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 36th Canadian Football League season.-CFL news in 1993:...
, but the team folded before it could begin play.
He returned to the college ranks in 1993 when USC head coach John Robinson offered him the position of offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
and quarterbacks coach
Quarterbacks coach
A quarterbacks coach is a coach in charge of the quarterbacks in gridiron football. The quarterbacks coach typically operates under the offensive coordinator on a team's coaching staff....
; he later became assistant head coach. The Mesa Tribune
East Valley Tribune
The East Valley Tribune is a publication concentrating on cities within the East Valley region of metropolitan Phoenix, including Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert and Queen Creek....
named him the league’s top assistant coach in 1993 after leading the Trojan offense to record setting numbers. USC quarterback Rob Johnson earned numerous Pac-10 and NCAA records under Riley's tutelage and would later become a fourth-round NFL Draft
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
pick. "He's a player's coach, who gets the most out of you by treating you like normal," Johnson later said.
Riley remained at USC through the 1996 season, helping the Trojans to victories in the Rose, Cotton, and Freedom
Freedom Bowl
The Freedom Bowl was an annual post-season college football bowl game played at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California, from 1984 to 1994. Beginning with the 1995 season, the Freedom Bowl's WAC tie-ins were merged with that of the Holiday Bowl and the game was dissolved...
Bowls. USC won an outright league title, shared another, and finished second once.
Oregon State
Riley was hired as the head coach at Oregon StateOregon State Beavers
The Oregon State Beavers is a name shared by all sports teams at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. The Beavers are part of the Pacific-12 Conference . Oregon State's mascot is Benny the Beaver...
in 1997 to replace Jerry Pettibone
Jerry Pettibone
Jerry Pettibone is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Northern Illinois University from 1985 to 1990 and at Oregon State University from 1991 to 1996, compiling a career college football record of 46–84–2.-Early life:Pettibone's...
. In the Beavers' first season under Riley, they posted a record of 3–8. This was a difficult season for Riley as he attempted to run his NFL-style offense with players recruited by Pettibone to run the wishbone triple-option. The 1998 season was another big step in the right direction, with the Beavers posting a 5–6 record, their best record since 1971. The 1998 season was capped off by a double-overtime 44–41 win over the Oregon Ducks
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
in the Civil War
Civil War (college football game)
The Civil War is the colloquial name for an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Oregon Ducks football team of the University of Oregon and the Oregon State Beavers football team of the Oregon State University...
game.
Although his first stint with the Beavers only lasted two seasons, Riley is considered, by FSN commentators, to have laid the foundation for the success of the Beavers in the years to come. The 1999 team, led by Dennis Erickson
Dennis Erickson
Dennis Erickson is an American football coach and former player. He was the head football coach at Arizona State University until November 28, 2011, a position he had held since the 2007 season. In 2008 the Arizona Board of Regents had approved a contract extension to keep Erickson at Arizona...
, posted a 7–5 record and earned a trip to the Oahu Bowl
1999 Oahu Bowl
The 1999 Jeep Oahu Bowl was a college football bowl game, played as part of the 1999-00 bowl game schedule of the 1999 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the 2nd Oahu Bowl. It was played on December 25, 1999, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The game matched the Hawaii Warriors...
, ending a record 28 season streak of sub .500 seasons.
San Diego Chargers
In 1999, Riley left the Beavers to become the head coach of the San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. Riley coached the Chargers from 1999 to 2001, with a record of 14–34. His last game was indicative of his last season, as the Chargers played well, but one poor play turned the tide. The 2001 Chargers ended their season with a loss to the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, after Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
passed for 377 yards and drove for the tying field goal with 16 seconds remaining, but poor special teams play led to a long Seahawks kick return and subsequently a 54-yard winning field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
.
Riley was fired as head coach of the Chargers after three seasons and was an assistant coach with the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
in 2002. He was offered the Alabama
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
job in December 2002 after Dennis Franchione
Dennis Franchione
Dennis Wayne Franchione , also known as Coach Fran, is an American football coach. He is currently the head football coach at Texas State University, a position he held from 1990 to 1991, when the school was known as Southwest Texas State University, and resumed in 2011...
left for Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
. Riley was also under consideration for the UCLA
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
job during that period. After spending one season with the Saints, Riley returned to Corvallis to become the head coach at Oregon State in 2003 following Erickson's departure to San Francisco
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
of the NFL.
Return to Oregon State
Continuing on their new success, the Beavers won bowl games in 20032003 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 2003 Oregon State Beavers football team represented Oregon State University in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Beavers offense scored 433 points while the defense allowed 301 points. Led by head coach Mike Riley, the Beavers won the 2003 Las Vegas Bowl.-Schedule:-Team players...
and 2004 before having a down year in 2005
2005 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 2005 Oregon State Beavers football team represented the Oregon State University in the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team's head coach was Mike Riley...
.
After starting the 2006
2006 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 2006 Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in the college football season of 2006-2007. The team's head coach is Mike Riley, with home games being played at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Oregon.-The upset:...
season 2–3, the Beavers went 9–4 on the regular season, including an upset of #3 USC in Corvallis. The Beavers completed their impressive season with a win over Missouri
2006 Missouri Tigers football team
The 2006 Missouri Tigers football team represented the University of Missouri during the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season.-Schedule:...
in the Sun Bowl
2006 Sun Bowl
The 2006 Brut Sun Bowl featured the Oregon State Beavers and the Missouri Tigers.Running back Tony Temple started the scoring for Missouri as he took a handoff and ran 7 yards for a touchdown, to give Missouri an early 7-0 lead. Quarterback Matt Moore threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver...
in El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
, ending their season with a 10–4 record.
In 2007
2007 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 2007 Oregon State Beavers football team represented Oregon State University in the college football season of 2007-2008. The team's head coach is Mike Riley. Home games are played at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Oregon.-Season notes:...
, the Beavers again started 2–3 and finished 8–4 on the regular season, including an upset of #2 Cal
2007 California Golden Bears football team
The 2007 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the college football 2007-2008 season. They played their home games at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California and were coached by Jeff Tedford....
in Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
. The Beavers finished the year 9–4 with a win in the Emerald Bowl
2007 Emerald Bowl
The 2007 Emerald Bowl, part of the 2007-08 NCAA football bowl games season, was played on December 27, 2007, at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California, with the Atlantic Coast Conference represented by the Maryland Terrapins against the Oregon State Beavers, representing the Pacific-10...
in San Francisco over the Maryland Terrapins
2007 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2007 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football season. It was the Terrapins' 55th season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference and its third within the...
.
In 2008
2008 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 2008 Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in the college football season of 2008-2009. The team's head coach is Mike Riley...
Riley's Beavers knocked off #1-ranked USC 27–21 at Reser Stadium
Reser Stadium
Reser Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. on the campus of Oregon State University. It is the home of the Oregon State Beavers of the Pacific-12 Conference. Originally opened in 1953 as Parker Stadium, the stadium was renamed in 1999, and its current...
. The Beavers went into the Civil War with a chance to reach the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
as Pac-10 champions but were defeated by Oregon
2008 Oregon Ducks football team
The 2008 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon in the college football season of 2008. This was the final season for Mike Bellotti as the Ducks' head coach; he was promoted to become the school's athletic director after the season. The Ducks played their home games at...
, 65–38, and instead accepted another invitation to the third place Sun Bowl
2008 Sun Bowl
The 2008 Brut Sun Bowl, part of the 2008–09 NCAA Division I FBS bowl season, was played on December 31, 2008 at the stadium of the same name on the campus of the University of Texas at El Paso in El Paso, Texas. The 75th annual contest pitted the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Oregon State Beavers....
, where they beat Pittsburgh
2008 Pittsburgh Panthers football team
The 2008 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2008 college football season. The season was the fourth under head coach Dave Wannstedt, who was looking to achieve his first winning season with the Panthers...
in a defensive struggle, 3–0.
Though winless in bowl games as a player, Riley has a 5–1 NCAA football bowl record as a head coach, having won the 2003 Las Vegas Bowl
2003 Las Vegas Bowl
The 2003 Las Vegas Bowl was the 12th edition of that annual game. It featured the Oregon State Beavers, and the . Oregon State's 55 points scored remains a Las Vegas Bowl record. Their 41-point victory margin is also a record....
, 2004 Insight Bowl
2004 Insight Bowl
The 2004 Insight Bowl was the 16th edition of the bowl game. It featured the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and the .Oregon State scored first on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Derek Anderson to wide receiver George Gillett to take a 7–0 lead...
, 2006 Sun Bowl
2006 Sun Bowl
The 2006 Brut Sun Bowl featured the Oregon State Beavers and the Missouri Tigers.Running back Tony Temple started the scoring for Missouri as he took a handoff and ran 7 yards for a touchdown, to give Missouri an early 7-0 lead. Quarterback Matt Moore threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver...
, 2007 Emerald Bowl
2007 Emerald Bowl
The 2007 Emerald Bowl, part of the 2007-08 NCAA football bowl games season, was played on December 27, 2007, at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California, with the Atlantic Coast Conference represented by the Maryland Terrapins against the Oregon State Beavers, representing the Pacific-10...
, and 2008 Sun Bowl
2008 Sun Bowl
The 2008 Brut Sun Bowl, part of the 2008–09 NCAA Division I FBS bowl season, was played on December 31, 2008 at the stadium of the same name on the campus of the University of Texas at El Paso in El Paso, Texas. The 75th annual contest pitted the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Oregon State Beavers....
. Riley is a combined 8–1 in bowl games as a head or assistant coach. In the 2009 Las Vegas Bowl
2009 Maaco Bowl Las Vegas
The 2009 Maaco Bowl Las Vegas was an NCAA-sanctioned Division I FBS post-season college football bowl game, in which the Brigham Young Cougars defeated the Oregon State Beavers 44–20. The game was played on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 5 p.m...
, the Beavers lost to the BYU Cougars
2009 BYU Cougars football team
The 2009 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University in the 2009 football season. The Cougars were led by head coach Bronco Mendenhall and played their home games at LaVell Edwards Stadium....
of the Mountain West Conference
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
.
In Riley's second stint at OSU, the Beavers have produced three current NFL quarterbacks, Sean Canfield
Sean Canfield
Sean Canfield is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft; he played college football at Oregon State.-Early years:...
, Matt Moore
Matt Moore (American football)
Matthew Erickson Moore is an American Football quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League.He played college football at UCLA and Oregon State...
, and Derek Anderson
Derek Anderson (American football)
Derek Matthew Anderson is an American football quarterback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
.
Following the 2009
2009 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 2009 Oregon State Beavers football team represented Oregon State University in the college football 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach, in his second stint with the Beavers, was Mike Riley who was in his seventh straight season and ninth overall with the football...
season, Riley was rumored to be up for the USC vacancy created by the resignation of Pete Carroll
Pete Carroll
Peter Clay Carroll is the head coach and executive Vice-President of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He is a former head coach of the New York Jets, New England Patriots and the University of Southern California Trojans football team.-Early life:Carroll attended Redwood High...
. Those rumors were put to rest when Riley signed a three-year extension at OSU through the 2019 season.