Rice’s loss at UConn has prompted a coaching change.
Head coach Mike Bloomgren was fired after a 17-10 loss to UConn on Saturday dropped Rice to 2-6 on the season. Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reported the firing Sunday afternoon, shortly before Rice issued a statement.
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to Coach Bloomgren. During his seven seasons of service as our head football coach, he has represented our university and football program with the utmost class and integrity,” said Rice Athletic Director Tommy McClelland, in a statement. “However, as we evaluated our program and compared our current and desired trajectory, I determined that new leadership is necessary to guide us into the future.”
The school said associate head coach and special teams coordinator Pete Alamar will be the team’s interim coach.
Rice went to bowl games in 2022 and 2023, although the Owls won six games only once during Bloomgren’s tenure. Last season, Rice went 6-6 before losing 45-21 to Texas State in the First Responder Bowl. The previous season, Rice made it to a bowl game despite a 5-7 season because there weren’t enough 6-6 teams and the Owls had one of the best academic progress rates of any 5-7 team.
Overall, the Owls were 24-52 since Bloomgren was hired in 2018. The team went 2-11 in his first season and gradually improved during his tenure. However, the Owls took a step back this season in their second year in the AAC. Rice’s only win over an FBS opponent this season is a 29-27 victory over UTSA. The team has been outscored 193-104 by FBS opponents.