Matt Entz left a head coaching job at North Dakota State, where he went 60-11 with two FCS national championships in five seasons, to take a job as USC's linebackers coach this year as a strategic career move to better position himself for an FBS head coaching opportunity.

And the move went as planned, as Entz was hired Wednesday as the head coach at Fresno State.

Trojans coach Lincoln Riley was asked about the impact of Entz's departure on USC's push toward National Signing Day on Wednesday, as the Trojans lost a high-profile recruiting battle to Notre Dame for local four-star linebacker Madden Faraimo (JSerra HS) and had three-star linebacker commit Jadon Perlotte (Buford, Georgia).

"It didn’t get finalized until here this morning. It’s one of those situations that came together pretty quickly. And so, I don’t know that it’s fair to say that it did or didn’t complicate things. I mean, in this world, it’s just kind of part of it," Riley said. "When you have a really good staff, you got really quality people on your staff, you’re gonna have guys that get opportunities and move on. And I think we’re happy for Coach Entz, first. College football head coaching jobs are really, really hard to get. And I think it’s always a sign of a healthy program, when programs are wanting to come in and hire your people, particularly, in head coaching roles.

"And so, he did a great job for us. He made us better, made me better. Was a great hire, and a big part of, statistically, one of the most, if not the most, improved defense in the country. So, wish he and Brenda the best. They’ve been great Trojans, and excited for their next opportunity."

USC signed just one linebacker in local four-star standout Matai Tagoa'i (San Clemente HS). The Trojans had also lost another linebacker commit in late November when four-star Ty Jackson (Loxahatchee, Florida) flipped to Florida.

"I don’t know that I can sit here and say that we did or didn’t get somebody because of that today. I don’t know that it was that impactful in terms of anything that played out today," Riley reiterated. "But I think part of our goal is to have a program, an offense, a defense, that goes beyond any one coach. That people know that what they’re getting into here in terms of our culture, our systems that we have in place, and that they’re going to remain steadfast and never be tied directly to one person. And so, nah, wish him the best, and again, I think it’s a compliment to our program and to those hires that we made 12 months ago at this time.”

Entz was popular with USC's players, and linebacker Eric Gentry tweeted his reaction to his position coach's departure.

"I can't even lie. I'm hurt," Gentry wrote. "Y'all don't even understand, the man changed my whole perspective ... A year ago, I truly believed football wasn't gonna work out. That man came with the whole D staff and changed my whole perspective."

USC head coach Lincoln Riley is meeting with media soon to talk about the Trojans' recruiting class and will be asked about Entz's departure.

Riley was asked if he expected any further staff changes ...

"No other expected staff changes right now," he said. "I know this is the time of year when those things happen. But we’ve got a really good staff, and so people are going to want to – they’re going to be interested in our guys. Nothing I would call imminent now by any stretch."