In a surprising turn of events, Rice University has made the decision to part ways with head football coach Mike Bloomgren midway through the 2024 season. According to sources close to the program, the termination comes on the heels of a disappointing 2-6 start, which has left the Owls struggling to find their footing in the competitive American Athletic Conference (AAC).
Bloomgren, who took over the reins at Rice in 2018, compiled a 24-52 record during his seven-year tenure. While he managed to lead the team to back-to-back bowl appearances in 2022 and 2023 – a feat not accomplished since 2013-2014 – the progress seemed to stall this season. The Owls stumbled out of the gate with a shocking home loss to FCS opponent Sam Houston State and have since posted a dismal 1-4 record in conference play.
The university’s decision to move on from Bloomgren comes at a critical juncture for the football program. With new president Reginald DesRoches at the helm, Rice has expressed a renewed commitment to elevating its athletic profile. This increased investment and ambition likely played a role in the administration’s choice to seek new leadership on the gridiron.
Pete Alamar Named Interim Head Coach
In the wake of Bloomgren’s dismissal, associate head coach Pete Alamar will assume the role of interim head coach for the remainder of the 2024 campaign. Alamar, a seasoned assistant with over three decades of coaching experience, will be tasked with stabilizing the program and salvaging what’s left of a disappointing season.
The Owls have four games remaining on their schedule, including high-profile matchups against Navy and Memphis over the next two weeks. How the team responds to this midseason upheaval could provide valuable insight into the character and resilience of the roster Bloomgren leaves behind.
Bloomgren’s Rise and Fall at Rice
Mike Bloomgren arrived at Rice with an impressive pedigree, having served as an assistant coach at both the collegiate and professional levels. He rose to prominence during his stint at Stanford from 2011 to 2017, where he played a key role in developing the Cardinal’s physical, run-heavy offense.
When Bloomgren took over at Rice in 2018, he inherited a program that had fallen on hard times. The Owls were coming off a 1-11 season and had not posted a winning record since 2014. Bloomgren’s task was clear: rebuild the program from the ground up and establish a winning culture.
Progress was slow but steady in his first few seasons. Rice won three games in 2018 and 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic threw the 2020 season into chaos. The Owls emerged from the pandemic with renewed focus, posting a 4-8 record in 2021 before breaking through with consecutive bowl appearances in 2022 and 2023.
However, the momentum from those postseason berths failed to carry over into the 2024 campaign. The season-opening loss to Sam Houston State set the tone for what would become a frustrating and inconsistent year. Blowout losses to Houston and UCF in conference play only added to the growing sense of unease surrounding the program.
What’s Next for Rice Football?
With Bloomgren out and Alamar serving as a stopgap solution, attention now turns to Rice’s search for its next head coach. The university’s increased investment in athletics suggests that it will aim high in its pursuit of a new leader for the football program.
Several names have already begun to circulate among industry insiders. Some believe Rice could target up-and-coming coordinators from Power Five programs, hoping to find the next innovative offensive or defensive mind. Others speculate that the Owls might pursue a more experienced head coach with a proven track record of success at the Group of Five level.
Regardless of the direction Rice chooses, one thing is clear: the next head coach will be stepping into a program at a crossroads. The Owls have shown flashes of potential in recent years, but consistency has proven elusive. Elevating Rice to the upper echelon of the AAC will require a coach who can not only recruit top talent but also develop that talent and implement effective game plans on both sides of the ball.
As the search begins in earnest, all eyes will be on Rice to see if it can make a splash hire and set its football program on a path to sustained success. For now, though, the focus remains on the present, as Pete Alamar and the Owls look to salvage what’s left of a season that began with such promise but has since gone off the rails.
The coming weeks will test the mettle of this Rice team and provide a glimpse into the future of a program in transition. While the dismissal of Mike Bloomgren marks the end of one era, it also presents an opportunity for the Owls to chart a new course and write the next chapter in their storied football history.
Bloomgren, who took over the reins at Rice in 2018, compiled a 24-52 record during his seven-year tenure. While he managed to lead the team to back-to-back bowl appearances in 2022 and 2023 – a feat not accomplished since 2013-2014 – the progress seemed to stall this season. The Owls stumbled out of the gate with a shocking home loss to FCS opponent Sam Houston State and have since posted a dismal 1-4 record in conference play.
The university’s decision to move on from Bloomgren comes at a critical juncture for the football program. With new president Reginald DesRoches at the helm, Rice has expressed a renewed commitment to elevating its athletic profile. This increased investment and ambition likely played a role in the administration’s choice to seek new leadership on the gridiron.
Pete Alamar Named Interim Head Coach
In the wake of Bloomgren’s dismissal, associate head coach Pete Alamar will assume the role of interim head coach for the remainder of the 2024 campaign. Alamar, a seasoned assistant with over three decades of coaching experience, will be tasked with stabilizing the program and salvaging what’s left of a disappointing season.
The Owls have four games remaining on their schedule, including high-profile matchups against Navy and Memphis over the next two weeks. How the team responds to this midseason upheaval could provide valuable insight into the character and resilience of the roster Bloomgren leaves behind.
Bloomgren’s Rise and Fall at Rice
Mike Bloomgren arrived at Rice with an impressive pedigree, having served as an assistant coach at both the collegiate and professional levels. He rose to prominence during his stint at Stanford from 2011 to 2017, where he played a key role in developing the Cardinal’s physical, run-heavy offense.
When Bloomgren took over at Rice in 2018, he inherited a program that had fallen on hard times. The Owls were coming off a 1-11 season and had not posted a winning record since 2014. Bloomgren’s task was clear: rebuild the program from the ground up and establish a winning culture.
Progress was slow but steady in his first few seasons. Rice won three games in 2018 and 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic threw the 2020 season into chaos. The Owls emerged from the pandemic with renewed focus, posting a 4-8 record in 2021 before breaking through with consecutive bowl appearances in 2022 and 2023.
However, the momentum from those postseason berths failed to carry over into the 2024 campaign. The season-opening loss to Sam Houston State set the tone for what would become a frustrating and inconsistent year. Blowout losses to Houston and UCF in conference play only added to the growing sense of unease surrounding the program.
What’s Next for Rice Football?
With Bloomgren out and Alamar serving as a stopgap solution, attention now turns to Rice’s search for its next head coach. The university’s increased investment in athletics suggests that it will aim high in its pursuit of a new leader for the football program.
Several names have already begun to circulate among industry insiders. Some believe Rice could target up-and-coming coordinators from Power Five programs, hoping to find the next innovative offensive or defensive mind. Others speculate that the Owls might pursue a more experienced head coach with a proven track record of success at the Group of Five level.
Regardless of the direction Rice chooses, one thing is clear: the next head coach will be stepping into a program at a crossroads. The Owls have shown flashes of potential in recent years, but consistency has proven elusive. Elevating Rice to the upper echelon of the AAC will require a coach who can not only recruit top talent but also develop that talent and implement effective game plans on both sides of the ball.
As the search begins in earnest, all eyes will be on Rice to see if it can make a splash hire and set its football program on a path to sustained success. For now, though, the focus remains on the present, as Pete Alamar and the Owls look to salvage what’s left of a season that began with such promise but has since gone off the rails.
The coming weeks will test the mettle of this Rice team and provide a glimpse into the future of a program in transition. While the dismissal of Mike Bloomgren marks the end of one era, it also presents an opportunity for the Owls to chart a new course and write the next chapter in their storied football history.
