Homer Rice, a former soccer coach and school administrator, died Monday at age 97.
Georgia Tech introduced the passing of Rice, the college’s athletic director from 1980-1997. The Yellow Jackets received their final soccer nationwide championship below his watch in 1990 after the boys’s basketball crew made their first Closing 4 earlier that 12 months.
“The Georgia Tech athletics neighborhood is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Homer Rice,” Georgia Tech athletic director J Batt stated in a faculty assertion. “Coach Rice was an enormous within the fields of teaching and athletics administration. He oversaw probably the most profitable period of Georgia Tech athletics and in addition, by means of his Whole Particular person Program, has made and continues to make a optimistic influence on tens of millions of student-athletes nationwide. His legacy shall be part of Georgia Tech and intercollegiate athletics ceaselessly.”
Rice misplaced simply 9 video games in 11 seasons as a highschool soccer head coach earlier than starting his school profession as a Kentucky assistant in 1962. He later spent a season at Oklahoma earlier than changing into Cincinnati’s head coach in 1967.
Following two seasons, North Carolina made Rice its athletic director. He then served as each the pinnacle coach and athletic director at Rice College earlier than touchdown an NFL head teaching job with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1978.
The Bengals received 4 video games in every of Rice’s two seasons earlier than he made his remaining cease at Georgia Tech. After main the college to newfound athletic heights, he wrote books and taught lessons on management.
The NCAA yearly presents the Homer Rice Award to a retired FBS athletic director who “made important and significant contributions to intercollegiate athletics.”
“Homer has reminded us all through his profession that the last word aim of intercollegiate athletics is to assist student-athletes develop totally as folks,” Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera stated. “At a time of profound modifications in athletics, Homer’s message and legacy of excellence is extra vital than ever.”
Associated: Georgia Tech School Soccer Legend Lifeless At 76