SMU Athletics

Garrett Riley joined the Mustang football staff as Offensive Coordinator and quarterbacks coach in January of 2020.

In his first season on the Hilltop, Riley mentored Senior CLASS Award Second-Team All-American quarterback Shane Buechele. Buechele finished in the top 15 for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, was part of the Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2020 and was a semifinalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award. He was listed on Maxwell, Manning, CFPA Award and Wuerffel Trophy Watch Lists, and was also selected to play in the East-West Shrine and Hula Bowls. Buechele signed as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs.

SMU ranked ninth in red zone offense (.920) and were in the top 20 in total offense (12th, 494.5), passing offense (13th, 318.0), scoring offense (15th, 38.6) and third down conversion % (19th, .469). The Mustangs registered 500 yards of total offense in six of 10 games and finished 46-of-50 (92%) in the red zone, going perfect in seven games.

In all, four offensive players earned all-conference honors, led by FWAA Freshman All-America selection Ulysses Bentley IV.

Riley was named to the AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute.
 
Riley arrived on the Hilltop after spending the 2019 season as running backs coach at Appalachian State, and was set to be promoted to Offensive Coordinator. The Mountaineers went 13-1 that season, including a Sun Belt Championship and a win in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl over UAB. Riley mentored Darrynton Evans to Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year honors after posting 1,740 all-purpose yards, including 1,250 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns. Evans was a third round selection by the Tennessee Titans in the 2020 NFL Draft.
 
Prior to his time at Appalachian State, Riley spent three seasons at Kansas (2016-18) in various capacities.
 
From 2013-15, Riley worked with the offense at ECU, spending the 2015 season as the outside receivers coach and 2013 and 2014 as an offensive assistant. While with the Pirates, Riley coached standout receiver Zay Jones, who caught 98 passes for 1,009 yards in 2015 and went on to set the NCAA FBS career record with 399 receptions. Jones was selected 37th overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 2017 NFL Draft.
 
Riley got his start in the collegiate ranks in 2012 as running backs coach at Augustana College (Ill.), and prior to that was a quarterbacks and passing game assistant at Roosevelt High School in Lubbock, Texas, in 2011.
 
A 2012 graduate of Texas Tech with a degree in general business, Riley played for the Red Raiders in 2008 and 2009 before transferring to Stephen F. Austin for the 2010 season. Riley played in 11 games, helping the Lumberjacks to a 9-3 record and Southland Conference Championship.
 
Riley and wife Lindsay have two sons, Gibson and Greyson.