Rice Hires Mike Bloomgren​ As Next Head Football Coach

HOUSTON, TX — Rice University hired Mike Bloomgren as its next head football coach, Rice Director of Athletics Joe Karlgaard announced Tuesday. Bloomgren was most recently the offensive coordinator and associate head coach at Stanford, where he spent the last seven seasons. Bloomgren, who'll be Rice's 19th head coach in history, agreed to a five-year contract.

"The football program is important to our university and this community. Mike Bloomgren is a bright, driven, and relentless coach who fits perfectly with our vision for championships on the field, scholarship in the classroom, and service to others," Karlgaard said. "I’m grateful to President Leebron for his support and assistance in recruiting the Bloomgrens to Rice. I can’t wait for Mike, Lara, Tyler, and Parker to join us in Houston.”

Bloomgren spent seven seasons with the Cardinal, first as the offensive line coach (2011-12) and then assuming the reigns of Stanford’s pro style offensive attack in 2013, setting the stage for one of the most successful decades in the program’s rich history.

Stanford has won eight or more games in each of his seasons and reached the Pac-12 Football Championship four times, winning three titles.

"I am excited and humbled to lead the football program at Rice," Bloomgren said. "In my seven years at Stanford, I have seen firsthand how elite college athletics and academics can not only coexist, but thrive together. I want to create an environment at Rice where every player’s dreams are realized on and off the field."

Prior to 2017, Bloomgren had coached 12 NFL Draft selections and 11 All-America selections at Stanford, including 2015 Outland Trophy winner Joshua Garnett and NCAA all-purpose yardage record holder Christian McCaffrey.

The 2017 campaign has seen running back Bryce Love nearly match McCaffrey’s production on his way to being named a finalist for both the Heisman Trophy and Doak Walker Award. Love burst out of the gate with 180 yards on 13 carries against Rice in season opener in Sydney, Australia and completed the regular season with 1,973 yards on the ground, second only to McCaffrey’s school-record 2,019 in 2015.

Image: Stanford offensive coordinator Mike Bloomgren talks during a news conference in Los Angeles, Monday, Dec. 28, 2015. Stanford is scheduled to play Iowa in the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game on New Year's Day. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)