10 candidates to replace Mike Bloomgren as Rice football’s head coach
Rice shook up its football leadership Sunday, firing head coach Mike Bloomgren in the middle of his seventh season at the program’s helm. Athletic director Tommy McClelland said he intends to lead a national search for Rice’s next head coach immediately. Here are 10 candidates to replace Bloomgren as the Owls look to be American Athletic Conference contenders in 2025 and beyond.
Casey Woods (Age 41)
Currently: Southern Methodist University offensive coordinator and tight ends coach
Woods’ resume includes stops at various prominent NCAA programs, as well as two teams in the AAC. He currently leads an SMU offense that ranks 26th among FBS teams in total offense and 17th in total yards.
Jerry Mack (Age 41)
Currently: Jacksonville Jaguars running backs coach
Mack has strong ties to Rice, where he was the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for three years. Since then, he has fortified his resume as the running backs coach for both the University of Tennessee and the Jacksonville Jaguars. A head coaching gig might be enticing enough to lure Mack from the NFL back to the collegiate level.
Skip Holtz (Age 60)
Currently: Birmingham Stallions head coach
Holtz, who now leads a UFL franchise, is no stranger to Rice football, coaching against the Owls numerous times during his 14 seasons with two different programs in Conference USA. He also has strong ties to McClelland, who was his athletic director for seven years at Louisiana Tech University.
Clint Killough (Age 31)
Currently: University of the Incarnate Word head coach
Killough might be the latest success story from Incarnate Word’s apparent FCS-to-FBS coaching pipeline, following in the footsteps of Eric Morris and G.J. Kinne. Just 31 years old, he has impressed through parts of two seasons as UIW’s head coach, going 14-4 (9-1 in conference).
Wesley Beschorner (Age 41)
Currently: Northern Illinois University offensive coordinator and running backs coach
Beschorner previously spent one year as Rice’s quarterbacks coach and is now in charge of the offense at Northern Illinois University, which snuck into the AP Top 25 earlier this year after an upset victory over No. 8 University of Notre Dame.
Peter Rossomando (Age 52)
Currently: Lamar University head coach
Rossomando was the interim head coach at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte for a four-game stretch in 2022 that included a 56-23 win over Rice. He also has ties to McClelland from their one-year overlap at Vanderbilt University in 2020. Now, Rossomando has led Lamar to a 6-5 record (5-2 in conference) this season.
Drew Mehringer (Age 36)
Currently: University of Oregon tight ends coach
Mehringer is a former Rice quarterback and student assistant who has risen through the ranks in college football. He has been on the coaching staff for three different Texas-based programs and is now the tight ends coach at No. 1-ranked Oregon. Rice might be able to poach him from the Ducks before he commands Power Four head coaching interest next year.
Jon Kay (Age 50)
Currently: Rice linebackers coach
Kay is the only in-house name on this list. The Owls hired him away from a dominant Galena Park North Shore High School program less than two years ago, and he has quickly made his mark within a strong Rice linebackers room. Kay compiled a 117-18 record in nine seasons at North Shore, leading the Mustangs to four 6A state championships.
Tim Beck (Age 58)
Currently: Vanderbilt University offensive coordinator
Beck has an impressive offensive coaching resume at various Division I programs, including in-state at Texas Christian University. Now, in his first season at Vanderbilt, Beck’s offensive savvy has helped lead the Commodores to a 5-3 record, including a win over the University of Alabama, and the No. 25 spot in the AP Top 25 after Week 8.
Mike Mutz (Age 47)
Currently: Stephen F. Austin State University defensive coordinator
Not many coaches make the jump from FCS coordinator to FBS head coach, but Mutz is an appealing candidate. He was previously in charge of a Tulane University linebackers room that was one of the best in the nation, helping lead the Green Wave to a 2022 AAC title. This year’s Stephen F. Austin defense has allowed just 17 points per game, which is the 11th-best mark in FCS and has the Lumberjacks sitting at 5-3.
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