The Rice Owls hired Scott Abell to replace Mike Bloomgren as head football the school announced Tuesday morning. Abell, 54, previously served as head coach at Division III Washington & Lee and most recently at FCS Davidson. He’s 86-52 as a head coach in 13 seasons as a head coach with five conference titles. 

“After spending time with Scott throughout this process, it was clear that we had found the right leader for our program,” athletic director Tommy McClelland said in a statement. “He has had an immediate impact on every program he has coached and is passionate about developing winners on and off the field. He is the right person to lead Rice football into a new era of success. I am thrilled to welcome Scott and his family to Rice.”

Abell landed at Davidson in 2018 and helped turn around a struggling FCS program, winning a conference title by Year 3 with a 4-1 conference record during the COVID-shortened spring season in 2020-21. His team won the Pioneer League in the fall of 2021, as well. The Wildcats are 6-5 this year with a 4-4 record in conference play. 

“I am incredibly honored and humbled to be the named the next head football coach at Rice University,” Abell said. “I want to thank President DesRoches, Athletic Director Tommy McClelland, and his staff for their trust and confidence in me and my family. I cannot imagine a more ideal time or fit for myself, my family, and the future of Rice Football. Today begins the journey, as we pursue championships. Go Owls!”

Bloomgren was fired in his seventh season on Oct. 27 after the Owls loss to UConn in Week 9 to fall to 2-6 on the season. He was 24-52 as the head coach on South Main, ushering Rice’s move from CUSA to the AAC ahead of the 2023 season. His Owls reached bowl games in 2022 and 2023, but never finished a season with a winning record. 

Rice’s last winning season was in 2014 when David Bailiff led the Owls to eight wins. That was also the last season that Rice won a bowl game. The program won 10 in 2013 and 2008.