Dallas Cowboys

Why Did the Dallas Cowboys Choose K-State’s Offensive Coordinator for O-Line?

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WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – For the second straight year, the Kanas State Wildcats have an offensive coordinator vacancy on their coaching staff. On Friday, the Dallas Cowboys confirmed the hiring of Conor Riley to serve as the offensive line coach on Brian Schottenheimer’s staff.

With Kansas State, Riley served one full season as offensive coordinator after starting on the K-State staff as the offensive line coach. He took the reigns of the offense in the Pop-Tarts Bowl at the end of the 2023 season, filling as interim offensive coordinator following Collin Klein’s departure. He took over the role full-time in 2024. Before coming to Kansas State, Riley was the offensive line coach at North Dakota State from which he followed Head Coach Chris Klieman to Manhattan, Kansas.

In the move to the NFL and a return to working with the run and pass protectors, the Cowboys said the organization is bringing in a man who is “heralded as one of the top offensive minds and coaches in the country.”

FRISCO, Texas — It looks as if business may not simply be picking up for the Dallas Cowboys’ rushing attack in 2025 and beyond, but specifically for a couple of offensive players in particular, as the team has hired Conor Riley to Brian Schottenheimer’s staff as offensive line coach.

Riley hails from Kansas State and, yes, coached both Cooper Beebe and Deuce Vaughn in his time with the Wildcats; and he’s heralded as one of the top offensive minds and coaches in the country.

To that point, Vaughn produced a mind-bending 4,884 yards from scrimmage and 43 touchdowns, dominating as both a pure RB (109.7 rushing yards per game in his final two seasons) and as a WR out of the backfield (31.3 receiving yards per game and 9.3 yards per reception in his final two seasons), over the course of only 37 games under Riley’s scheme; and, as it stands, there is much to be determined at the position in Dallas, clearing a path for Vaughn to finally make an impact.

Prior to his time in Manhattan (no, not that one), Riley spent time as offensive line coach at North Dakota State University, setting records and winning a total of five national championships in the process before eventually being named offensive coordinator in his move to the Wildcats.

Under his tenure, the rushing attack at Kansas State launched to second-best in the Big 12 with more than 200 rushing yards per game on average, and the offense as a whole averaged more than 31 points per contest.

Riley’s prowess is expected to marry well with what newly-hired offensive coordinator (and former offensive line coach) Klayton Adams and Derrick Foster, also newly-hired but in the role of running backs coach, all look to do under the design of Schottenheimer as play caller going forward.

Time will indeed tell the full story of what’s being pieced together in Dallas, but it’s already clear that the Cowboys are hellbent on surrounding their first-time head coach with a lot of firepower on his coaching staff.

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