Rice head coach hot board: Top candidates to replace Mike Bloomgren

Rice fired head coach Mike Bloomgren on Sunday, the day after the Owls fell 17-10 at UConn. Over Bloomgren’s nearly seven seasons at Rice, the program was 24–52. Despite never posting a winning record, he did take Rice to two consecutive bowl games.

With the Owls now in the American Athletic Conference and working with limited resources, the job has its challenges. Bloomgren was making $981,781 in 2024. The private school in Houston has been hesitant to spend dollars on athletics.

“It’s an academic place,” an industry source told On3. “So somebody that understands academic requirements or who has worked at an academic place in the past [will be the ideal candidate].”

So who will they hire? Let’s look at the top candidates:

Bill Clark, former UAB head coach

Bill Clark retired ahead of the 2022 season because of back problems, but he is healthy and wants to get back into the game. In six seasons with the Blazers, he was 49–26 with five bowl appearances. He also went 32-12 in C-USA play. He has a proven track record as a winner, and he has experience lifting a program from the bottom of a conference. Clark’s name is also in the mix for the East Carolina and Southern Miss searches. The UAB football program was terminated after the 2014 season because of financial struggles. UAB reinstated football in June 2015 after public outcry, but the team did not return until 2017 as Clark rebuilt the program.

Shannon Dawson, Miami offensive coordinator

The former Kentucky, West Virginia and Houston playcaller is in Year Two at Miami. Dawson convinced Washington State transfer quarterback Cam Ward to turn down the NFL for the Hurricanes. Through eight games, Miami leads the nation in total offense, averaging 560.8 yards. Ward has emerged as a front runner to win the Heisman Trophy, too. Dawson’s 2022 offense at Houston ranked No. 17 in total offense, averaging 36.1 points.

“You’re not going to find a more diverse background,” a source previously told On3. “He coached with Hal Mumme and Dana Holgorsen, studying the aerial and ground attack. He’s also a relentless recruiter, he stayed on Cam Ward even after he declared for the NFL draft.”

Drew Mehringer, Oregon tight ends coach

A native of Mansfield, Texas, Drew Mehringer played quarterback at Rice before a career-ending injury sidelined. Mehringer finished his career at Rice as a student assistant with the quarterbacks for three seasons, graduating in 2010 with a degree in political science. He’s made previous coaching stops at Texas and Houston, helping bring in the top classes in their conferences. Mehringer was one of Dan Lanning’s first hires at Oregon. The 36-year-old helped develop Terrance Ferguson, who could go as high as the first round in the 2025 NFL draft.

Holmon Wiggins, Texas A&M co-offensive coordinator

The former Alabama assistant head coach of offense and wide receivers coach joined Mike Elko’s staff at Texas A&M last offseason as co-offensive coordinator. He has recruiting experience in Texas and is a part of a coaching staff that has Texas A&M ranked No. 10 in the nation.

Jerry Kill, Vanderbilt consultant

The former New Mexico State head coach announced in December 2023 that he was stepping down. In early January, he took an advisory, off-field role working with Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea and offensive coordinator Tim Beck. Jerry Kill has an all-time head coaching record of 175-115, including over four seasons at Minnesota. A source told On3 to “keep an eye” on Kill during this coaching carousel. Kill was crucial in Vanderbilt landing quarterback Diego Pavia, who has helped the Commodores to a 5-3 record.

Matt Wells, Kansas State co-offensive coordinator

Matt Wells has proven head coaching experience. A two-time Mountain West Coach of the Year during his five years at Utah State, he guided the Aggies to 44 wins and five bowl appearances in his tenure. He was the program’s only coach to lead Utah State to at least three bowl games along with multiple victories. Wells was fired after just two-plus seasons at Texas Tech, finishing 13-17. Rice would offer the chance to get back into the head coaching ranks. Kansas State is averaging 434.5 yards per game.

Casey Woods, SMU offensive coordinator

Casey Woods is leading an offense that ranks No. 15 in the nation in scoring this season. The offensive coordinator has previously made stops at Missouri, UAB and Auburn. Under Woods, SMU ranked No. 8 in team offense in 2023.

Scott Symons, SMU defensive coordinator

In the mix for the Troy job last year, Scott Symons’ SMU defense currently ranks No. 2 in the nation with four defensive touchdowns in eight games this season. SMU is 7-1 overall and 4-0 in the ACC, still in the mix for a conference title and a College Football Playoff bid.

Zach Kittley, Texas Tech offensive coordinator

Zach Kittley has climbed the coaching ladder, leading top offenses at Houston Baptist and Western Kentucky. He’s now in Year Three as the Texas Tech offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Kittley’s offense currently ranks in the top 20 in passing yards per game (288.1) and total offense (457.0). Running back Tahj Brooks ranks No. 9 in the nation with 925 rushing yards this season. The 33-year-old offensive coordinator is a Texas Tech alum and is from Abilene, Texas.

Clint Killough, Incarnate Word

The last two Incarnate Word hires have done exceptionally well in GJ Kinne and Eric Morris. Kinne is now at Texas State with Morris at North Texas. Clint Killough is in his second season at Incarnate Word and has the Cardinals at 6-2 and atop the Southland. UIW is ranked No. 10 in FCS with former Texas A&M quarterback Zach Calzada ranked No. 9 at the FCS level with 2,105 passing yards.

Cortez Hankton, LSU co-offensive coordinator

A New Orleans native who went to college at Houston’s Texas Southern, Cortez Hankton is in Year Three at LSU. With a familiarity with the Houston area, he helped develop NFL first-round picks Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas. He was elevated to co-offensive coordinator this past offseason, helping an LSU passing offense (332.8 yards per game) that ranks No. 6 in the nation. Hankton, a former NFL wide receiver, has also spent time at Georgia and Vanderbilt.

Chris Marve, Virginia Tech defensive coordinator

The former Vanderbilt linebacker is in his third year as Virginia Tech’s defensive coordinator. A former three-time All-SEC selection, Chris Marve’s defense ranked in the top 20 of total defense in 2023, finishing second in the ACC in that category. The Hokies also tied for 10th in the nation in sacks with 39. This year’s defense ranks No. 4 in the nation in red zone defense. Athletic director Tommy McClelland arrived at Rice in July 2023 from Vanderbilt.

Slade Nagle, LSU tight ends coach

After stepping in as Tulane’s interim head coach in last year’s Military Bowl, Slade Nagle joined the LSU coaching staff as tight ends coach. The Baton Rouge native and former McNeese State quarterback, Nagle was the running backs coach and special teams coordinator at his alma mater in the 2010s when McClelland was athletic director. As offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2023 at Tulane, quarterback Michael Pratt was named American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year.