Bob Stoops comments on Lincoln Riley, interim tag

Current FOX Sports college football analyst and former Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops is returning to the program as interim head coach after Lincoln Riley’s departure to USC. Sunday night, he released a statement the departure of his former protégée and new role with the program.

The following was released by the Oklahoma Sooners’ social media team, via Twitter.

“First and foremost, I’m a program guy and whatever I can do to help OU and to support the players, of course I’m glad to do it,” Stoops said in the statement. “I’ll do everything I can to help them finish the season in a strong and successful way and I look forward to that.”

The 61-year old College Football Hall of Famer then went on to talk about his former offensive coordinator and successor Lincoln Riley, whose surprise departure thrusts him back into coaching temporarily.

“Lincoln did a great job in his five years as head coach her and I appreciate all he did for this program,” said Stoops. “I’ll always appreciate the close friendship we’ve had and will continue to have. I wish the best for him, Caitlin and their family.”

Bob Stoops hopes to help Oklahoma football stabilize the transition as interim head coach until a replacement is named.

Lincoln Riley’s statement

Former Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley commented on his decision to accept the coaching position at USC, and his leaving the Sooners program. Riley leaves the Sooners after a near-playoff appearance, amidst rumors that LSU was a potential new home for the coach.

“My time at OU has included some of the most special years of my life and my family’s lives. I had so many great memories and made so many great friends that we’ll take with us forever. A lot of things that we were a part of here, I’m incredibly proud of — the success on the field, the success off the field, the players. Proud of the staff. Proud of the way we worked so well with the university and our administration. We’ve been able to have two phenomenal leaders in President Harroz and Joe Castiglione, and they have been everything I could ever ask for in this role and more.

“Leaving OU was probably the most difficult decision of my life. OU is one of the best college football programs in the country, and it has been forever. That’s not going to change with another head coach. It’s stood the test of time and it’s going to continue to do so. This was a personal decision solely based on my willingness to go take on a new challenge, and I felt like it was the right opportunity for me and my family to do that.

“We’ll leave here with fond memories. It’ll be very difficult to say goodbye to Norman, but it will always be a part of our family, our history. I’ll be a Sooner fan as long as I live — a fan of this state, of this university and the people here. I love them all very much.”