Lincoln Riley's 2023 USC Compensation Revealed: $11.5 Million Plus $3.43 Million Housing Loan

University of Southern California football coach Lincoln Riley's complete compensation for 2023 has been disclosed in newly released federal tax documents, revealing a package exceeding $11.5 million. The filing offers the most detailed insight yet into Riley's financial arrangement with the Trojans.

A significant portion of Riley's compensation, over $10.2 million, is listed as base compensation. He also received $100,000 in bonuses and incentives, alongside nearly $1.15 million categorized as "other reportable compensation."

The tax documents also reveal Riley benefits from a housing loan with a balance of $3.43 million, mirroring the loan's initial amount. This detail sheds light on the perks provided to the high-profile coach upon his arrival at USC.

Last year's tax return, which covered the 2022 calendar year, included details on the $4.5 million buyout USC paid to the University of Oklahoma to secure Riley's release. While USC treated this as taxable income for Riley and covered the associated taxes, the recent filing gives a clearer picture of his ongoing compensation.

The documents also show USC continued to pay former head coach Clay Helton in 2023. Helton, who was dismissed in September 2021, received $4.25 million from USC during the year, bringing his total payout to over $9.1 million.

Interestingly, Helton, now the head coach at Georgia Southern, earned $752,000 in basic pay from that institution for the 2023 season, highlighting the financial realities of college football coaching transitions.