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Grab Bag: What’s going on around Rice Athletics? May 2024 Q&A

May 25, 2024 By Matthew Bartlett

Rather than drill down on one topic, subscribers had a variety of questions this month touching all areas of Rice Athletics. We hit on them all.

A lot is going on around Rice Athletics right as the academic year winds down. This mailbag touches on a host of topics ranging from the state of college sports, possible Rice Athletics sports additions, existing sports and more.

Want to get your questions answered? Subscribe on Patreon for our monthly mailbag.

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Q: What’s happening with upgrading Rice Stadium?

A: Finding a solution for the current stadium situation was one of the first things athletic director Tommy McClelland mentioned when he was hired and while proposed solutions haven’t been communicated yet… hang tight. The wheels are turning and progress is being made on that front. When the time comes to share those next steps, I think most Rice fans will be excited about the direction the administration wants to head with the stadium.

Q: Any chance for men’s soccer?

A: In short, probably not. Rice had now added two women’s programs, diving and golf, but both of those were logistical slam dunks. Now that the Owls are adding the sport, every D1 program in the state has women’s golf and bolstering the swimming program with diving was an obvious next step. When it comes to a brand new program with a larger scholarship base, I’d look towards the possibility of another women’s program, but a decision like that probably isn’t imminent.

Q: What’s going on with women’s soccer? The last two years have been disappointing. Is Brian Lee the right guy for the job?

A: Lee made noise when he arrived on campus and took Rice soccer to the Sweet 16, a first in program history. They were undefeated in conference play in 2022 before the aforementioned rough 2023 campaign in which they went 3-13-2. McClelland has demonstrated he’s not averse to making a change if needed, but I’d find it hard to believe there was imminent pressure on Lee or the program given what they’ve accomplished so far.

As far as recent news, Rice has the No. 32 recruiting class in the country coming to campus. Those reinforcements should be a huge boost to the program.

Q: Where does Rice fit in the future of college sports?

A: Rice obviously doesn’t have the resources of some of the biggest national brands that are making headlines. And while that’s true, it’s equally apparent Rice is committing itself to being competitive in collegiate sports for the long haul. What that will look like in two years, five years, ten years? Nobody can be certain.

The most recent NCAA House case settlement has cast further uncertainty around what that future world will include, but it won’t spell the end of college sports, far from it. Things are going to look different. Athletes are going to get compensated in ways that were unfathomable even a few years ago. But college sports aren’t going anywhere and Rice will continue to participate.

Consider this an educated guess. Rice Athletics will strive to maintain its spot in the highest level of competition available to them and will spend commensurate amounts alongside its peers to compete for championships. I don’t envision a scenario where the Owls voluntarily “give up” on that aspiration because conditions become too challenging or vary too far from the traditional model of collegiate athletics that existed in the pre-NIL world.

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Filed Under: Archive, Premium, Reserve, Women's Athletics Tagged With: Q&A, Rice Athletics

NEWS: Rice Athletics to add Women’s Golf in 2026

May 10, 2024 By Matthew Bartlett

Rice Athletics is growing again. The university announced today the addition of Women’s Golf to their sponsored sports in 2026.

When Rice Athletics Director Tommy McClelland arrived at South Main he spoke of ambitious growth and a commitment to making the Owls excellent in everything they endeavor to do. Alongside those plans was a commitment to ensure Rice had the opportunities to succeed in both men’s and women’s athletics. In January, McClelland announced the addition of a diving program. Just a few months later, the Owls are on the move again, this time committing to add Women’s Golf.

Much in the same way there were built-in efficiencies when Rice went to incorporate diving into its preexisting swimming program, adding a women’s team to complement the men’s program is another natural stepping stone as the department continues to grow.

Lynn Laverty Elsenhans, a former Rice women’s basketball player, and her husband, John, have endowed Rice Athletics to jumpstart the program.

President Reginald DesRoches offered these comments:

“We are thrilled to launch women’s golf at Rice. This is a part of our overall commitment to excellence in every area, including Rice Athletics, and especially women’s sports. We thank Lynn for this gift to launch the program and encourage other dedicated alumni to join us in supporting women’s golf.”

You can read the full release here.

Teeing off a new era#GoOwls👐 x @RiceWGolf pic.twitter.com/NmVdir73Jc

— Rice Athletics 👐 (@RiceAthletics) May 10, 2024

Beyond the excitement that comes with growth, the addition of a second sport in the span of a few months sends a clear statement regarding the direction and ambition of Rice Athletics. In a collegiate landscape that is rife with challenges and new obstacles, the Owls are growing — not shrinking — as they head into an uncertain future. That’s the sort of program most every athlete would tell you they’d like to join.

When combined with the move to the American Athletic Conference, the Owls certainly are putting their commitment to athletics on full display.

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

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NEWS: Rice Athletics to add Diving in 2024

January 31, 2024 By Matthew Bartlett

Once a university-sponsored sport discontinued in 1991, Rice Athletics has announced its plans to bring back women’s diving in 2024.

In an ever-changing landscape in which universities are slashing sports (as recently as this week), Rice Athletics is officially doubling down on its commitment to athletics and growing its athletic footprint. The Owls announced this week the return of the women’s diving program in 2024.

Rice Women’s Diving was a sponsored sport at the university from 1975 to 1991 before it was discontinued. Meanwhile, the women’s swim team at Rice has been prolific, frequently finishing as high as possible in the standings with one caveat — winning titles is extremely challenging because the team did not score any diving points. Now that’s changing.

“Year after year, our swimmers have produced championship-caliber results and countless event champions, but the lack of diving points has prevented them from standing at the top of the podium as a team,” said Rice Athletics Director Tommy McClelland in a statement on Tuesday. “We are committed to winning our conference in every sport, and the return of the diving team is a vital step forward.”

You can read the full release here.

Practically, this decision raises a few interesting things as far as the trajectory of Rice Athletics as a whole. First, it demonstrates a commitment from the university to back sports and a tangible alignment between athletics and the university. Look no further than the school president Reginald DesRoches jumping into the pool himself!

The alignment between @RiceUniversity and @RiceAthletics in one picture.

Going to be some fun years ahead with @RDesRoches and @tmcclelland. #GoOwls https://t.co/xL0AteYrOo pic.twitter.com/VrzelV0hdc

— The Roost (@AtTheRoost) January 30, 2024

Additionally, it signals potential growth opportunities with that enhanced level of commitment. As the Owls move into the AAC and add to one athletics program it opens the door for further investment.

This decision wasn’t just about diving. It’s a first step in strengthening Rice Athletics and ensuring the Owls can do just what McClelland said in his statement above, compete to be “winning our conference in every sport.” That means more investment in swimming, track and field, soccer, football, baseball, etc. Across the board, things are looking up for Rice Athletics.

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

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Rice Athletics AD Tommy McClelland shares goals, big dreams for Owls

August 15, 2023 By Matthew Bartlett

On Tuesday morning, Rice Athletics introduced Tommy McClelland as its new Athletic Director and gave him the opportunity to share his vision for the Owls.

News broke a few weeks ago that Rice Athletics had found its new Athletic Director. The University formalized the announcement soon afterward and on Tuesday, those expectations were fulfilled with the introduction of Tommy McClelland as the Owls’ new AD.

“I’ve always admired Rice from afar. The opportunity to join the university, one of the world’s elite institutions and a university and an athletics program that is on the rise, it’s truly unbelievable,” McClelland said. “Rice athletics has enormous potential to achieve even greater success while remaining true to its core values.”

McClelland made it clear he viewed this position as a destination job. He spoke of all the potential Rice had and stirred up the passions of those in the room, asking everyone to do their part in helping the university achieve those lofty aspirations.

The Roost Podcast: Soundbites and summaries from Tommy McClelland’s presser

As for his vision for the athletic department, McClleland leaned into the unique value proposition Rice University holds. “Athletics is not the most important thing on this campus, not by a longshot,” he admitted. “But our sports programs do provide the widest lens in which people get to view the global impact that is happening all over this campus.”

McClelland closed his initial remarks with a powerful value statement, further clarifying his goals for the athletic department “to use athletics as a mechanism to become a top-rated university in education, in research and in everything we do.” adding that he believes “we can utilize the platform in athletics to help amplify the success of the university. When one area of the university wins, we all win.”

You can view the entire press conference here.

Tommy McClelland Introductory Press Conference https://t.co/jjEWHQNLPE

— Rice Athletics 👐 (@RiceAthletics) August 15, 2023

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

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Rice Athletics: Tommy McClelland named Director of Athletics

July 30, 2023 By Matthew Bartlett

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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