Matt Entz Leaves North Dakota State to Join Lincoln Riley’s Staff at USC

Entz won two FCS national championships at NDSU.

Matt Entz is leaving North Dakota State after five years as the Bison’s head coach and 10 seasons in Fargo. 

Entz is joining Lincoln Riley’s staff at USC, he told ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Football Scoop’s Zach Barnett later reported that Entz will be the Trojans’ assistant head coach for defense and linebackers coach. He has never previously coached at the FBS level.

During his five years leading the Bison, Entz compiled a 60–10 record (32–7 in the Missouri Valley Conference) and won two NCAA FCS championships in three title game appearances. Following five seasons as Chris Klieman’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, he took over as head coach when Klieman left for Kansas State after the 2018 campaign.

Entz will stay as NDSU’s head coach until the end of this season’s FCS playoff run. The Bison have defeated Drake, Montana State and South Dakota thus far and will face Montana in the championship semifinals on Saturday.

Matt Entz went 60–10 with two FCS national championships as North Dakota State’s head coach / Photo Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

“Having a championship-caliber staff is instrumental to the success of our team,” Riley said in USC’s official announcement. “By welcoming Matt Entz, a championship-winning head coach and outstanding defensive mind, we are bolstering our defensive staff. He is going to be an excellent addition to the USC football program.”

Bringing Entz on is part of Riley’s overhaul of USC’s defensive staff following the firing of coordinator Alex Grinch with two games remaining in the regular season. D’Anton Lynn was hired from UCLA to take over the defensive coordinator position and improve a unit that finished No. 123 in the nation in points and yards allowed per game.