I had a thread on this earlier this week and it has more to do with stability as anything else. USC has been in varying degrees of turmoil for the better part of 6 years now and Haden would like nothing better to have a degree of peace. Riley is both respected and a calming influence, he would be a popular pick with the media and you would be sure that Troy would enter a era of calm when it comes to drama around the program. I have no doubt if this happened Oct 2014 that Riley would be the likely next coach at USC, however it didn't and he will be our coach for the next decade or so.
Riley better start winning some games if you think he'll be NU's HC for 10 years.