Lincoln Riley was credited with nearly $20 million in total compensation for his first year at USC, USA Today reported Wednesday.
Tax documents USC filed with the IRS showed Riley earned nearly $10 million in direct compensation and over $9.6 million in "other reportable compensation." The bulk of that $9.6 million was a $4.5 million buyout due to Oklahoma, and then the taxes on that $4.5 million. (Wouldn't Riley then have to pay taxes on the taxes? That's a question for the accountants to answer.)
USC is not required to disclose Riley's contract, but it is believed to be 10 years for $110 million.
Additionally, former defensive coordinator Alex Grinch earned nearly $2 million in base salary plus $2.3 million in "other" comp, including a $1.08 million buyout.
Clay Helton received a $4 million buyout in the calendar year 2022, on top of $900,000 in separation payments paid to him in 2021.
In all, USC paid Riley, Grinch and Helton $28 million in the calendar year 2022.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.