Mike Riley to Nebraska: Latest Contract Details, Analysis and Reaction

Another high-profile coaching gig in college football has been filled, as Nebraska has hired former Oregon State coach Mike Riley.

The school announced the hire on its Twitter account:

Shortly after Florida filled its vacancy by hiring Jim McElwain, per Chris Low of ESPN.com, Nebraska named its replacement for Bo Pelini.

Riley coached Oregon State for 14 seasons, leading them to eight bowl games (they were 6-2 in those contests). He won 93 games in total in that time.

"It is truly an honor to join the University of Nebraska family," Riley said, per KETV.com. "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."

Jay Foreman of CSN Houston provided the full letter from Riley to Nebraska welcoming the opportunity:

Brett McMurphy of ESPN reported the length and total cost of the contract:

Eric Olson of the Associated Press reported that the deal would pay Riley $2.7 million in base salary per year. 

Former Nebraska standout Prince Amukamara tweeted a welcome to the new coach:

This hire is going to surprise some people, no doubt. Pelini went 67-27 and won at least nine games each season dating back to 2008, but he was never able to return Nebraska to national prominence.

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Bryan Fischer of NFL.com reports that Riley may not have been the Huskers' top choice:

While Riley brings plenty of experience in the college game and in general—he also coached the NFL's San Diego Chargers for three seasons—he isn't the big splash many Nebraska fans may have been expecting. Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports was certainly surprised, though he understood what the school sees in Riley:

Riley may not be flashy, but he's proven himself capable of building down-on-their-luck programs into competitive ones. He's got the coaching chops to succeed, and his offense should breathe life into the Huskers' program.

It's a new era for Nebraska's football program, and now Riley will have the unique challenge of accomplishing what Pelini could not—restoring Nebraska as one of the pre-eminent powers in college football.