Cowboys Targeting Either Oklahoma HC Lincoln Riley Or Baylor HC Matt Rhule?

According to Jason La Canfora, the Cowboys have closely monitored Oklahoma HC Lincoln Riley and Baylor HC Matt Rhule for a potential head coaching vacancy that continues to look more and more likely. 

Riley has been connected to the Cowboys for some time now. He’s arguably the top offensive mind in all of college football and has strong ties to the Jones family that owns and manages the team.

While he has a dream job at Oklahoma, competing for the national title for the third straight year, Dallas is the type of high-profile NFL job Riley could consider leaving for. 

Rhule, meanwhile, has drawn attention the past few years for his work rebuilding a Baylor program that was razed following the departure of Art Briles in a rape scandal. He turned down the Jets vacancy last year after disagreements about hiring his staff but is expected to draw interest around the league again. 

Earlier in the week, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he’s been impressed with Riley and Rhule.

“I am impressed with him,” Jones said of Riley, per Michael Gehlken. “But boy, I am impressed with Baylor’s Rhule, too. Those were two outstanding coaches at the stadium this weekend …They’ve done great jobs.” 

Riley, 36, began his coaching career as an assistant at Texas Tech back in 2003. He worked his way up to WRs coach before departing to become the offensive coordinator at East Carolina.

Riley joined the Oklahoma staff in 2015 as their offensive coordinator/QBs coach before taking over as head coach for Bob Stoops in 2017.

For his career, Riley has led the Sooners to a record of 35-5, but has yet to win a Bowl game.

Rhule, 44, began his coaching career at Albright as a linebackers coach back in 1998. He worked for a number of schools including Buffalo, Western Carolina, UCLA and Temple before being hired by the Giants as an assistant offensive line coach for the 2012 season.

Rhule returned to Temple as head coach in 2013 and spent four years in the position before being hired as the new head coach at Baylor in 2017.

During time has a head coach, Rhule’s teams at Temple and Baylor produced a record of 47-42 (52.8 percent) and four bowl appearances.

We’ll have more on the Cowboys coaching search as the news is available.