Pete Thamel, ESPN
Rice has fired coach Mike Bloomgren, who went 24-52 in his seven seasons with the Owls, it was introduced Sunday.
“I need to categorical my honest appreciation to Coach Bloomgren,” Rice athletic director Tommy McClelland stated in a press release. “… He has represented our college and soccer program with the utmost class and integrity. Nevertheless, as I evaluated our program and in contrast our present and desired trajectory, I decided new management is important to information us into the long run.”
Bloomgren is anticipated to be owed $900,000.
Affiliate head coach Pete Alamar will take over as interim head coach for the rest of the season. The college will instantly start a seek for a everlasting alternative for Bloomgren. Rice (2-6) has 4 video games remaining, together with high-profile matchups over the following two weeks towards Navy and Memphis.
Bloomgren had some momentum going into the 2024 season, as Rice went to back-to-back bowl video games for the primary time since 2013 and 2014. The Owls, nonetheless, by no means obtained on monitor this season, shedding the opener at dwelling to Sam Houston State and beginning 1-4 in AAC play.
Rice misplaced at UConn on Saturday in what could be Bloomgren’s closing sport as head coach.
The Owls have expressed stronger athletic ambitions underneath new college president Reginald DesRoches, and there is been a current dedication in funding.
“The chance for Rice soccer to excel has by no means been higher,” McClelland stated. “I’m assured we’ll determine a coach who will lead our program and student-athletes into a brand new period of success.”
Bloomgren is a longtime faculty and NFL assistant who rose to prominence by way of his work at Stanford from 2011 to 2017.
