and Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman labored collectively to construct a soccer program that led the Combating Irish to the nationwide championship sport final month.
So when employed Bowden on Jan. 24 to grow to be the Trojans’ common supervisor — an ever-growing title and place within the fashionable school soccer panorama — an enormous query remained: What would the connection between Trojans coach and Bowden appear to be?
Bowden, whose wage is anticipated to exceed $1 million, accelerated the bonding course of by shifting in with the coach — not less than briefly.
“I’ve been in a position to keep at Coach Riley’s home during the last week and a half,” Bowden mentioned at his introductory information convention Wednesday morning. “That’s been a very nice expertise. I’ve been in a position to have a few of his steaks and balsamic Mickey Mantle’s steaks that he makes.”
He added: “My spouse, , I advised her that it’s the happiest I’ve been in a really very long time.”
Riley, coming into his fourth season at USC, mentioned the meat of Bowden’s job might be scouting, recruiting and wage cap administration. Simply 30, Bowden assembled three top-15 recruiting lessons at Notre Dame, in keeping with 247 Sports activities, after turning into the director of recruiting in 2022 and being promoted to common supervisor final March. USC’s 2025 recruiting class — now together with linebacker AJ Tuitele and defensive finish Jadyn Ramos — is ranked No. 17 within the nation by 247 Sports activities, whereas the still-developing 2026 group is fourth.
“Certainly one of his greatest objectives — our greatest objectives — with this was to permit our coaches to educate extra,” Riley mentioned. “I do know, as loopy as that sounds, a whole lot of our coaches get pulled in so many various instructions … no matter strengths individuals convey to the desk, you need to intensify these as a lot as you presumably can.”
Coming off back-to-back seasons ending exterior of the Related Press High 25, Riley mentioned he’s needed to change points of this system to push towards loftier outcomes.
“We’re not content material with any a part of this program being common and even being good; that’s not our mentality,” Riley mentioned. “Any a part of this program we’re evaluating on: Is it at a nationwide championship degree? If it’s not, is it trending that method shortly? If it’s not, we have to repair it.”
Riley credited athletic director Jennifer Cohen, deputy athletic director Jay Hilbrands and former common supervisor Dave Emerick (who’s now the senior affiliate athletic director for soccer administration) for assembling the employees. USC employed two of Bowden’s former Notre Dame colleagues: Dre Brown, the chief director of scouting and personnel, and Zaire Turner, assistant athletic director of recruiting operations.
Whereas Bowden mentioned he wouldn’t get into specifics concerning how USC will make the most of title, picture and likeness in recruiting, he laid out the technique.
“We’re going to main in highschool and we’re going to minor within the [transfer] portal,” Bowden mentioned. “We’re going to be aggressive, and we’re going to assault. Our companies change each single day. One thing will change and we’re going to be on offense each single day. We’re going to assault it. We’re going to assault it by highschool. We’re going to assault it by the state of California.”
Bowden, identified for his unorthodox recruiting strategies at Notre Dame, joked that Riley could possibly be “leaping out of a helicopter,” or newly employed affiliate head coach and linebackers coach Rob Ryan might “hop down in a parachute” to woo recruits.
“Coach Riley, Jen — there’s an alignment, there’s synergy inside how we’re going to method this factor, how we’re going to assault it,” mentioned Bowden, whose father, Jim, was an MLB common supervisor for the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals. “Any time you’ve gotten balsamic steaks which are phenomenal… you’ve gotten a reasonably nice relationship.”
Ryan’s rambunctious introduction
Returning to school soccer for the primary time since 1999, Ryan shared tales, flexed his impression abilities and strutted across the podium like a WWE wrestler.
The previous NFL coordinator with greater than 35 years of teaching expertise mentioned Trojans defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn is the explanation he’s in College Park. The 62-year-old Ryan most just lately served as a defensive assistant for the Las Vegas Raiders.
“D’Anton did the identical factor at UCLA,” mentioned Ryan, who coached with Lynn within the NFL with Buffalo and Baltimore. “Now he got here right here, this system was a little bit bit down, clearly on the upside. Watch the place we end this 12 months. Watch the place we end this 12 months. This man is particular. He’s particular.”
Ryan mentioned inside the linebackers corps, he’s trying ahead to teaching freshman Desman Stephens II and senior Eric Gentry. Ryan mentioned Stephens “performs violently,” whereas Gentry has “vines for arms,” utilizing his size to make performs on the sector.
Up-and-coming coaches
Riley might have appeared old fashioned by hiring Ryan, however he additionally chosen two youthful coaches to affix the employees.
Trovon Reed, 34, will coach cornerbacks, and Chad Savage, 30, will coach tight ends and inside receivers.
“It’s a cliche saying, everybody says it, however double down on relationships,” mentioned Savage, who’s from Colorado State. “Do your due diligence, however you bought to provide individuals the time of day. As a result of it doesn’t matter if it’s a small inner-city college, doesn’t matter if it’s a Trinity [League] college, you bought to provide individuals the time of day.”
Reed mentioned participant growth is certainly one of his key teaching traits following a one-year stint at Central Florida.
“I’m gonna break you down all the best way,” mentioned Reed, who performed within the NFL below Pete Carroll. “I’m gonna discover every little thing you’re not good at, and we’re gonna grow to be good. And the belongings you’re good at, we’re gonna proceed to be nice.”
Savage mentioned he hopes his power is contagious in observe and it rubs off on his gamers.
“After they make a play, don’t be stunned should you see a coach on the sector,” Reed mentioned. I’m gonna speak to educate [Riley]. I would get a flag or two, it’ll be value it although.”
