By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
The Rice Owls have hired Scott Abell as their new head football coach. He comes to the Texas-based school from Davidson College in North Carolina.
He is taking over a program that went 3-8 during the 2024 season. Their season will come to an end on Saturday against the South Florida Bulls.
The Owls are coming into their season finale with a two-game losing streak.
“After spending time with Scott throughout this process, it was clear that we had found the right leader for our program,” Vice President and Director of Athletics Tommy McClelland said “He has had an immediate impact on every program he has coached and is passionate about developing winners on and off the field. He is the right person to lead Rice football into a new era of success. I am thrilled to welcome Scott and his family to Rice.”
Mike Bloomgren went 2-6 as the Owls head coach this past season before being fired. Pete Alamar is currently 1-2 as their interim head coach.
Abell was 47-28 as the Davidson Wildcats head coach. He has had seven straight winning seasons.
Rice has not had a winning season since the 2014 season when the team went 8-5. The team had back to back winning seasons that ended after the 2014 season.
The Owls went 10-4 in 2013.
This past season, Abell guided the Davidson Wildcats to a 6-5 record.
He took over a program before he was hired that had not had a winning season since the 2011 season. Before his arrival at Davidson, the team was winless in four of the five previous seasons in conference play.
The Owls are hoping that he’ll have an immediate impact right away.
“I am incredibly honored and humbled to be the named the next head football coach at Rice University,” Abell said. “I want to thank President DesRoches, Athletic Director Tommy McClelland, and his staff for their trust and confidence in me and my family. I cannot imagine a more ideal time or fit for myself, my family, and the future of Rice Football. Today begins the journey, as we pursue championships. Go Owls!”
With the Wildcats, he guided the team to two 6-5 seasons. He also guided the program to two 8-4 seasons. In addition, he guided Davidson to an 8-3 season.
Abell had a 4-3 mark during the COVID-19 year. And he also guided the program to a 7-4 mark in 2023.
Overall, Abell is 86-52 as a head coach. He also spent six seasons leading the Washington & Lee Generals to a 39-24 in Division III.
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