A couple of weeks worth of speculation has turned to reality as Oregon State has filled the lone vacancy on its coaching staff.
Mike Riley confirmed via a press release Tuesday that he has hired Rod Perry as the Beavers’ new defensive backs coach. Perry will replace Keith Heyward, who left last month for a job with Pac-12 North rival Washington.
Perry has previous experience with his new boss, serving as Riley’s cornerbacks coach with the San Diego Chargers from 1999-2001.
“I targeted Coach Perry as a possibility to join our staff from the beginning of my search, and I feel fortunate to have somebody of his caliber coming to Oregon State,” Riley stated in the release. “He has coached in the professional ranks for 22 years and has college experience as well. He will be a tremendous asset in the development of our secondary and our team overall.”
Perry has spent the past 23 years as an assistant at the NFL level, including the past five years as special assistant to the defense with the Indianapolis Colts. Prior to that, he was a collegiate assistant at Columbia (1985), Fresno City College (1986) and Fresno State (1987-88).