WATCH: Lincoln Riley offers parting wishes for the Oklahoma Sooners

The biggest coaching move made this offseason was made official on Monday, with Lincoln Riley moving from Oklahoma to USC. He took in the Colesium for the first time as well during his introductory press conference.

For the first time as the USC head coach, Riley sat down for an interview. Fox’s Joel Klatt asked him about the switch to Los Angels from Norman, specifically about what the conversations were like with the Oklahoma administration and players.

“They were all tough,” Riley said. “President Joe Harroz, athletic director Joe Castiglione were so good to me so that conversation was certainly tough. The conversation with Coach (Bob) Stoops was tough because he was so instrumental in bringing me there and has helped guide me throughout my entire career. That was tough. The toughest one was probably with the players. We’ve been on an unbelievable run with those guys, I love those guys. They have given everything to that program and were so good to me. None of that was easy, it was the toughest part about this.”

Riley went on to talk about what the Sooners meant to him and why he wishes no ill toward them. He even went as far as to say he hopes they’re the second-best program in college football.

“There was nothing wrong with OU,” said Riley. “It wasn’t anything they didn’t do, they were phenomenal to us. It was just the right time in our lives for a new opportunity. I know some people will understand it, I know some people won’t but I have a genuine love for that place. I want it to be the second-best program in the country. I will root for them and forever be a part of them and linked to them and I am proud of that.”

Riley addresses perception SEC played role in leaving for USC

It was a whirlwind 24 hours for Riley. His Oklahoma Sooners lost to Oklahoma State in Bedlam Saturday night, and he told Van Pelt he got word of USC’s interest when he got back to Norman. By Sunday afternoon, news broke that he was taking the position.

But speculation started about why he left Oklahoma — notably about the Sooners’ impending departure from the Big 12 for the SEC. Remember, Oklahoma and Texas are planning to join the SEC by at least 2025.

Riley denied that reasoning during his interview with Van Pelt.

“I was completely in favor,” Riley said. “I was kept in the loop the whole way by our president and AD. I supported it the whole way. I thought it was the right move at the time and still think it was the right move. … It had zero impact on what went into that.”