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Rice Athletics: Tommy McClelland named Director of Athletics

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Rice president Reginald DesRoches announced that Tommy McClelland, currently the deputy athletic director at Vanderbilt, will be the Owls’ new AD.

In a statement released by the school on Sunday, Rice Athletics has named Tommy McClelland its next athletic director.

“We’re thrilled to be able to attract someone with Tommy’s breadth of experience and success,” DesRoches said. “He brings the values of academic excellence and deep integrity that define Rice, coupled with a passionate desire to compete successfully at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics. These attributes will be critical for Rice’s first season in the American Athletic Conference and the years to follow.”

“I am incredibly grateful to President DesRoches, the search committee and the Board of Trustees for the opportunity to serve as vice president and director of athletics at Rice University,” McClelland said. “My family and I are thrilled to join the Rice family and the Houston community.”

The news was initially reported on Saturday by Pete Thamel before being announced formally by Rice today.

McClelland is slated to begin duties on August 14, two weeks from today. In the meantime, senior associate director Tanner Gardner will serve as interim athletic director for the department.

The full statement is available to read here.

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Report: Rice Athletics targeting Tommy McClelland to be new AD

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Not long after the announced departure of Joe Karlgaard, Rice Athletics has reportedly focused its search on Tommy McClelland to be its new AD.

First reported by Pete Thamel, Rice Athletics is targeting current Vanderbilt deputy athletic director Tommy McClelland. According to Thamel, the deal is “expected to be finalized in the upcoming days.”

McClelland cut his teeth as an athletic director at McNeese State before moving to Louisiana Tech, where he served as the Bulldogs’ athletic director from 2013 to 2020 before departing for Vanderbilt. His particular penchant for fundraising, noted by Thamel and separately confirmed to The Roost, is one of his most distinctive traits.

The addition would be another step in a season of change for the entire Rice Athletics department and the university as a whole. Rice has recently installed a new president, Reginald DesRoches, moved to a new conference, the American Athletic, and now will be finalizing the addition of a new athletic director.

The hire would presumably enable Rice to have their card in order for the upcoming fall athletic season, which is quickly approaching. Rice football just completed media days last week and is set to open fall camp in the coming days. A new athletic year is poised to begin and it looks now as if the Owls have their man to lead them into an exciting new future.

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Rice Baseball 2023: MLB Owls update – July 25

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The 2023 MLB season is underway and Rice baseball alums are busy on the mound and at the plate. Here’s the latest from the MLB Owls.

Dane Myers – Miami Marlins

Myers proved himself mortal this past week, following a pair of three-hit games with four hitless performances. The relatively cool streak, given his hot start, dropped his average from .444 to a still robust .308. He’s run into some bad luck of late, but remains a mainstay for the Marlins in center field.

Through July 25, Myers is hitting .308 with three extra-base hits, one walk and 13 strikeouts. His OPS is .725 and he’s collected eight RBI.

J.T. Chargois – Miami Marlins

Chargois made two appearances this week, the first a scoreless sixth inning against the Cardinals, registering one walk, one strikeout and no hits. His second outing was less pristine, allowing two runs on two hits (one a home run) in a 4-3 loss to the Rockies. He was charged with a blown save.

Through July 25, Chargois has a 3.91 ERA with a 1.130 WHIP. He’s averaging 7.0 strikeouts per nine innings.

Glenn Otto – Texas Rangers

Ottow went more than two weeks in between appearances but finally got back on the mound on Saturday in a blowout game against the Dodgers. He surrendered two home runs and was charged with five runs against his ledger, part of a 16-3 loss to the visiting squad. It was Otto’s toughest result of the season to date, although he’s only appeared in four games.

Through July 25, Otto has a 10.80 ERA with a 1.800 WHIP. He’s averaging 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

Injured List

Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels

Rendon remains on the Injured List after fouling a ball off his leg and suffering a shin contusion earlier this season. He’s eligible to return whenever he’s deemed healthy, but there has been no indication as to when that will be.

Through July 25, Rendon is hitting .236 with eight extra-base hits, 25 walks and 27 strikeouts. His OPS is .678 and he’s collected 22 RBI.

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Rice Baseball 2023: MLB Owls update – July 18

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The 2023 MLB season is underway and Rice baseball alums are busy on the mound and at the plate. Here’s the latest from the MLB Owls.

Dane Myers – Miami Marlins

Everything is coming up roses for Dane Myers in his debut season as a major leaguer. Following a 3-for-4 performance on Monday (his second three-hit outing of the week) that pushed his average up to an incredible .444 he might just force the Marlins to find a way to keep him in the lineup for the foreseeable future, not just as an injury fill-in. And it’s not just empty numbers, Myers has delivered some And it’s not just empty numbers too!

Rice Sports Information Director Chuck Pool wrote this feature on Myers’ impressive start.

Through July 18, Myers is hitting .400 with three extra-base hits, one walk and eight strikeouts. His OPS is .940 and he’s collected eight RBI.

J.T. Chargois – Miami Marlins

Chargois has been busy since the All-Star Break, appearing in three games this week in the span of five days. He combined to work 2.2 innings, allowing one hit and one walk with two strikeouts. He was able to strand a pair of inherited runners on Saturday, but allowed two to score on Monday.

Through July 18, Chargois has a 3.50 ERA with a 1.095 WHIP. He’s averaging 6.9 strikeouts per nine innings.

Glenn Otto – Texas Rangers

Otto has not made any appearances since the All-Star Break.

Through July 18, Otto has a 7.11 ERA with a 1.105 WHIP. He’s averaging 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

Injured List

Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels

Despite early optimism Rendon would be able to return early after the All-Star break he was officially placed on the Injured List this week. It’s more bad luck for Rendon, who is headed to the IL for his third stint this season, this time for a shin contusion suffered after fouling a ball off his leg. This stint is retroactive to July 11, so he’ll be eligible to return fairly soon if he’s able.

Through the All-Star Break, Rendon is hitting .236 with eight extra-base hits, 25 walks and 27 strikeouts. His OPS is .678 and he’s collected 22 RBI.

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Rice Baseball 2023: MLB Owls update – July 11

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The 2023 MLB season is underway and Rice baseball alums are busy on the mound and at the plate. Here’s the latest from the MLB Owls.

New MLB Owls

The 2023 MLB Draft was held this week with three current Rice baseball players selected, all pitchers. Just one year removed from his transition from catcher to pitcher, Justin Long was selected by the Braves in the seventh round, 219th overall.

The Diamondbacks picked the other two Owls drafted this year. Hayden Durke was selected in the 13th round, 385th overall. Matthew Linskey went a few rounds later in the 16th round, 475th overall.

Dane Myers – Miami Marlins

Myers has been nothing short of phenomenal since getting his promotion to the big leagues in early July. Through six career games, he’s dazzled with his bat and some nifty base running, making five starts for the Marlins, all in center field. He’s recorded at least one RBI in five of his six appearances so far and is hitting a ridiculous .625 against left-handed pitching.

Through the All-Star Break, Myers is hitting .409 with two extra-base hits, no walks and six strikeouts. His OPS is 1.000 and he’s collected six RBI.

J.T. Chargois – Miami Marlins

Chargois made two appearances in the week leading up to the All-Star Break, the first coming on July 5 when he worked through a turbulent fifth inning against the Cardinals, walking two, but recording a pair of strikeouts to prevent any runs from being charged to his ledger. His second outing was much smoother, escaping the seventh inning against the Phillies with an inning-ending double play on just his second pitch.

Through the All-Star Break, Chargois has a 3.27 ERA with a 1.136 WHIP. He’s averaging 7.0 strikeouts per nine innings.

Glenn Otto – Texas Rangers

Otto made his third appearance of this season, this week, all of which have come in relief. He worked the sixth and seventh innings against the Nationals on Friday, earning his first official hold of the year. He allowed one run via a solo home, but otherwise turned in a crisp six outs, four by way of the strikeout.

Through the All-Star Break, Otto has a 7.11 ERA with a 1.105 WHIP. He’s averaging 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels

Redone left a game last week with a bruised shin after fouling a ball off his leg but wasn’t placed on the injured list. There’s some optimism he returns to the lineup shortly after the conclusion of the All-Star Break.

Through the All-Star Break, Rendon is hitting .236 with eight extra-base hits, 25 walks and 27 strikeouts. His OPS is .678 and he’s collected 22 RBI.

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