Oregon State Football Camps
Head Coach Mike Riley

Mike Riley has rightfully been credited with the rebirth of Oregon State football. The 57-year-old head coach has guided the Beavers to six bowl games in the last seven years, winning five, and started the rejuvenation of the program during his first tenure in 1997-98 that subsequently made three postseason appearances.

A member of the American Football Coaches Association's (AFCA) Board of Trustees and Ethics Committee, Riley is the second winningest coach in Beaver football history with 69 victories - 5 short of matching Lon Stiner's (1933-48) total. His resume sparkles with achievements, including the 2008 AFCA and Pac-10 Conference Coach of the Year.

The tenth-year head coach has also led his team to outstanding success in the classroom, where over the last three years Beavers have been honored by the Pac-10 for academic achievement 35 times. He's also developed future NFL players with 20 draftees (as of Jan. 2010) since his second arrival in 2003 and only USC has had more than OSU's 61 all-conference selections.

Riley is the first coach in OSU history to win more than one NCAA-sanctioned bowl game at OSU, capturing the 2003 Las Vegas Bowl, the 2004 Insight Bowl, the 2006 and 2008 Sun Bowls, and the 2007 Emerald Bowl titles. He also is the first coach to lead the program to more than one winning conference season (5-3 in '04, 6-3 in '06, 6-3 in '07, 7-2 in '08 and 6-3 in `09) since 1969.

Riley left Oregon State after the 1998 season to pursue a unique opportunity to become the head coach of the National Football League's San Diego Chargers. He spent four years in the NFL, returning to Oregon State after a one-year stint as an assistant with the New Orleans Saints.

The hometown boy--he attended Corvallis High School--returned to the Beaver sideline for the second time and led the program to the 2003 Las Vegas Bowl title. His '03 team set numerous individual and team records, and led the Pac-10 Conference for both offense and defense. He followed up the '03 team's success by signing the program's best ever recruiting class, according to several scouting organizations.

Riley was a popular choice when he was originally hired for the position in late December of 1996 and was equally as popular upon his hiring the second time.

Riley calls Corvallis his hometown, although he was born in Wallace, Idaho. He grew up watching Beaver football, as his father Bud was an assistant coach for the program from 1965-72 and again in 1979. Mike was a standout quarterback at Corvallis High School, leading the Spartans to the 1970 state title.

Riley, who already had coaching in his blood at a young age, made the decision to continue playing the sport in college at the University of Alabama for legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. He played cornerback from 1971-74, helping the Tide to four Southeastern Conference titles and the 1973 national championship.

Mike and his wife Dee are the parents of one son, Matthew, and one daughter, Kate. Matthew, an OSU graduate, is currently employed within the Beaver Athletic Department as a video specialist and Kate is a senior at OSU. 

Riley is under contract at OSU through at least 2019 - his contract rolls over one year for every time the team plays in a bowl game.

His success at all levels is well documented. Riley has earned the respect of players, coaches, media and fans. He has been called the savior of Oregon State football and the future continues to look bright for the Orange and Black.

RILEY’S OREGON STATE RECORD

Year                Record            Accomplishment
1997                    3-8                Total revamp of the program
1998                    5-6                Best OSU record in 27 years
2003                    8-5                Las Vegas Bowl Champions
2004                    7-5                Insight Bowl Champions
2005                    5-6                Five First Team All-Pac-10 selections
2006                  10-4                Sun Bowl Champions
2007                    9-4                Emerald Bowl Champions
2008                    9-4                Sun Bowl Champions
2009                    8-5                Las Vegas Bowl participant
2010                    5-7                Defeated 2 Top 25 Teams  
 
RILEY’S BEAVER HIGHLIGHTS

December 13, 1996 – Named Head Coach at Oregon State
September 6, 1997 – 27 4th-quarter points to beat N. Texas (33-7), first career collegiate victory
Oct. 10, 1998 – Riley gets first Pac-10 win with victory at Stanford (30-23)
Nov. 21, 1998 – Still considered the best Civil War ever, OSU defeats Oregon in double OT (44-41)
Feb. 19, 2003 – Named Head Coach for the second time at Oregon State
Dec. 24, 2003 – Defeats New Mexico in the Las Vegas Bowl (55-14)
April 24, 2004 — RB Steven Jackson selected in the first round of the NFL Draft
Nov. 20, 2004 – Defeats Oregon, scoring a then Civil War series record 50 points
Dec. 28, 2004 – Defeats Notre Dame in the Insight Bowl (38-21)
Oct. 15, 2005 – Defeats No. 18 California in Berkeley (23-20)
Dec. 8, 2005 – WR Mike Hass and PK Alexis Serna earn nat'l awards at the ESPN College FB Awards Show
Oct. 28, 2006 – Ends No. 3 USC’s 27-game Pac-10 win streak with victory on national TV (33-31)
Dec. 2, 2006 – Ends No. 24 Hawaii’s 9-game win streak with victory at Honolulu (35-32)
Dec. 29, 2006 – No. 24 OSU defeats Missouri in the Sun Bowl (39-38)
June 13, 2007 – Inducted into the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Hall of Fame
Oct. 13, 2007 – Defeats No. 2 California in Berkeley (31-28)
Dec. 1, 2007 – Defeats No. 18 Oregon in Eugene (38-31 2 OT)
Dec. 28, 2007 – Defeats Maryland in Emerald Bowl (21-14).
Sept. 25, 2008 – Defeats No. 1 USC at Reser Stadium (27-21)
Dec. 2008 – Named AFCA Regional Coach of the Year
Dec. 8, 2008 – Named Pac-10 Coach of the Year (first time)
Dec. 31, 2008 – No. 24 OSU defeats No. 18 Pittsburgh in Sun Bowl (3-0)
Feb. 8, 2009 – Named the Slats Gill Sportsperson of the Year (top coach in Oregon)
June 11, 2009 – Named to the Board of Trustees for the American Football Coaches Association.