Lincoln Riley explains decision to fire USC defensive coordinator Alex Grinch

After the Trojans’ 52-42 Week 10 loss to Washington, USC coach Lincoln Riley accepted responsibility for the decision to replace defensive coordinator Alex Grinch on Sunday. Riley discussed the decision during his first media appearance following the news, stating that USC’s defense did not progress as anticipated. Riley also cited the remaining possibilities for the Trojans this season as justification for the change.

“If we were in a situation where we didn’t have a whole lot left to play for, in terms of a conference championship and having an opportunity there, it might feel a little bit different,” Riley explained. “However, we remain completely focused on these upcoming opportunities, and we’ll handle whatever comes up next.”

USC fires defensive coordinator Alex Grinch – NBC Los Angeles

USC ranks second-worst among Power Five teams for points allowed per game (34.5) and fourth-worst in total yards allowed per game (436.0) this season. The Trojans (7-3, 5-2) are currently third in the Pac-12 standings ahead of a Week 11 matchup at Oregon on Saturday.

Below is everything Riley said during his Monday press conference:

Regarding the factors that contributed to the decision to fire defensive coordinator Alex Grinch: “Yeah, I watched the game on Saturday night. I also thought about it a lot during the night and went to bed.” didn’t get much rest. After giving it some more thought on Sunday morning, I concluded that making the change was in the best interests of our program going forward, as well as for this year (because we still have a lot of work to do and an amazing opportunity ahead of us). We were just not making the kind of progress that I believe we all thought we would. It’s difficult since there are no assurances in this game when you make these judgments. We are

“Alex is a great coach and a great person. He’s proven that a lot throughout his career and I’m disappointed that it didn’t work here. I know he is as well. But we’ve got to move on. We’re going to move on. Excited for coach (Shaun) Nua and coach (Brian) Odom’s opportunity. Excited for Taylor Mays. Excited for our team. We got a big time challenge, but a big time opportunity right in front of us here with these last two games. If we win these two, we could put ourselves in a pretty cool position. So that’s our focus, my focus going forward. If we were in a situation where we didn’t have a whole lot left to play for in terms of a conference championship and having an opportunity, it might feel a little bit different, but we’re still very laser-focused on these opportunities ahead, and then whatever comes next after that, we’ll deal with at the appropriate time.”

ON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE EXPECTATIONS, CONFIDENCE HE HAD IN THE DEFENSE AND HOW IT PLAYED OUT THIS SEASON:

“It’s a tough question. The bottom line is that it didn’t get to where he, I or our players expected, and we all took ownership of that. Listen, that’s the nature of the beast here. And I certainly am not, and our players and the rest of our staff are certainly not laying all the blame on Alex, because the reality is that I have a role in that. The other defensive assistants have a role in that. Our players have a role in that, as do our other staff members. Everybody has a role in it. And so, if it goes well, that’s great. And if it doesn’t meet expectations, then changes are going to be made, adjustments are going to be made and that’s just part of the business.

“And so, I have some thoughts of why I don’t know that this is the appropriate time to jump in all that where we’re getting ready to go play a really important football game, but obviously once the season wraps up and we look forward to preparing for next year and the future, those are questions that we’ll have to answer to make sure that we’re heading in the right direction, obviously for the future of this program.”

“First, as SC Trojan fans should know, he was one of the first people to say yes and get on the plane. And he wanted to be here, saw the potential and believed in this place as much as I did. And I think that ought to be appreciated. Second, he was a part of the greatest turnaround in the school’s history. And that should be appreciated. I know things defensively through the end of last year and throughout this season, especially kind of from mid-season on, have not been what either one of us wanted. And that’s obviously why we’re here today. So I think that says enough.”