BTN.com staff, December 5, 2014
Watch Mike Riley speak to the media after being named the new head football coach at Nebraska on Friday.
Riley is now the face of a program that ranks fourth in all-time wins and has won five national championships. The Huskers have not won a conference title since 1999.
"At the stage of my career, it was an opportunity to try something one more time," Riley said. "If you're going to do it one more time, this is a great chance to do it at a great place."
Riley will have a five-year contract that pays him $2.7 million annually. He'll receive automatic $100,000 increases in each year of a contract that runs through Feb. 28, 2020. Riley had been the lowest-paid coach in the Pac-12, making a reported $1.5 million this year. Pelini was paid $3.1 million. Read a transcript of his remarks over at Huskers.com.
?There was one coach who fit all the characteristics that I was seeking to lead our tradition-rich football program,? Nebraska Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst said. ?Mike Riley has a proven record of success, a sound approach to football and teaching, an understanding of the educational mission of our university and the integrity and values that we cherish at Nebraska. I have no doubt that Mike will assemble a tremendous staff and lead our student-athletes to win Big Ten titles and compete for national championships in the years ahead.?
?We have high expectations of the men and women who teach and coach our students and Mike Riley is an outstanding addition to our family,? added UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman. ?I want to welcome Mike and his family to Nebraska and thank Shawn Eichorst for his great efforts in bringing Mike to Lincoln.?
?It is truly an honor to join the University of Nebraska family,? Coach Riley said. ?Though we love Corvallis and Oregon State, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to coach at one of the nation?s most storied football programs and I can?t wait to get started. My sincere thanks to Chancellor Perlman and Shawn Eichorst for their confidence in me and I look forward to becoming a part of the Nebraska family and building upon the great history and tradition.?
