USC football coach Lincoln Riley just turned 40 years old eight days ago. If things go to plan, this may be his the last decade coaching football for the Trojans coach.

Though Lincoln is not setting anything in stone, he does hint at the possibility of retiring from coaching when he turns 50 so he can pursue other avenues in life and spend more time with family.

During an interview with Graham Besinger, Lincoln spoke on retiring young saying, “Yeah, I'm on the clock. I don't know how I'll feel in a few years, when I became a head coach so young – I became a head coach at 33 – my mindset was always like, ‘If I can make it to 50.’ Because there [are] other things I want to do. I don't even know exactly what they are. I don't know that I have the list right now. But I just know there's other things I want to do and experience. And I may have a different tune when I get to 49, but I don't care a lot about legacy. I don't care, in terms of like how many games you won, or records. I've never cared about that. Whenever I'm on my deathbed, I don't think I'm gonna give a damn about how many games I won, or if I have a statue.”

Article Continues Below
More NCAA Football News
Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore greets Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen Deboer after the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium.
Michigan football lands elite DL over AlabamaScotty White ·
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables during the Armed Forces Bowl football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Navy Midshipmen at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. Navy won 21-20.
Oklahoma surpasses Colorado, Miami for 4-star EDGE talentLorenzo J Reyna ·
Miami Hurricanes cheerleaders run on the field with flags after a touchdown against the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half at Camping World Stadium.
Miami football makes splash in 2027 class with 4-star DB commitScotty White ·
Alabama Crimson Tide running back Jam Miller (26) rushes with the ball against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Alabama loses 4-star ATH race to surprise Big Ten challengerLorenzo J Reyna ·
The Alabama Crimson Tide band plays during the first quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Alabama football flips 2nd Big Ten recruit of the day with DB commitmentScotty White ·
Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back Dwight Bootle II (21) moves the ball against Southern California Trojans linebacker Mason Cobb (13) during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
4-star cornerback picks Nebraska over Ohio State, ClemsonLorenzo J Reyna ·

Lincoln's wife Caitlin Riley also added her perspective on why she believes he will retire early.

“My gut is that he, that we will retire early. For sure… Just because to him I don't think there's a tangible goal of, ‘I need to win this many championships or accomplish this much to be successful, and I can't retire until that point.’ Our time is valuable to him, and so he wants to travel and do things with the girls when they're growing up for things that he feels like he's maybe lost out on now.”

Lincoln may not care about wins or legacy at the end of the day, but his Trojans are off to a 3-0 start and have high hopes to win a national championship this year.