David Bailiff not concerrned about his future at Rice
David Bailiff
HOUSTON - David Bailiff, one of the most successful football coaches in the history of Rice University, said Monday he is not concerned about his future with the school after winning only seven of his last 15 games, including 2-8 this year.
“You know I’m not. I’m going to keep working hard. If they want me, I’m coming back. If not, I’m going to take your job,” Bailiff said laughing during an interview with FOX 26 Sports.
“You know what, I’m going to work, do my best every day. You can’t concern yourself with that. You don’t get into this profession worried about that. You get into this profession knowing how volatile it is.
“My biggest concern, as it was 10 years ago, is taking great care of this football team, and I think I’ve done that.”
And in his 10 years at Rice Bailiff’s Owls have won more games during a two (18 wins), three (25) and four-year period (30) than at any other time in the history of the program.
On Bailiff’s watch Rice won its first outright conference championship in 56 years in 2013.
He has led the program to four bowl games, including a school-best three consecutive (2012-14), winning three of them, and to two of its three 10-win seasons.
Bailiff, who has two years left on his contract, does believe his body of work at Rice is a solid foundation for him to continue running the Owls football program.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Bailiff said. “This has been a tough season. It’s a unique place, unique university with some different obstacles that you have to figure out a way to negotiate around, but I think some of the things we’ve done here in my 10 years are really outstanding.
“Sure everybody wants to win more. Like I said, I’m going to continue to work, and I don’t worry about that.”
While 2016 has been a down season, Bailiff said there is a lot to look forward to at Rice.
“We’re starting a lot of youth on both sides of the ball,” Bailiff said. “We don’t have a lot of seniors playing. I think last week we started 10 sophomores and a freshman. It’s a young football team.
“I’m extremely excited about it. You look at the sophomores we’re playing, those were the recruits that were recruited after the conference championship. We had those three years of going to bowls where your recruiting goes up, and we’re having a great recruiting year right now.”
Bailiff’s record at Rice is 55-68. He is one win shy of tying Ken Hatfield for second place on the Owls all-time career victory list, and Hatfield was there for 12 years.
“I’m proud (of his accomplishments at Rice),” Bailiff said. “Obviously, I’d like to have a better season than we’re having right now.
“I think our body of work, we’ve done well. So much goes into that. We’ve had great players. We’ve got eight guys in the NFL right now.
“We’ve got a lot of young men that have bought into the vision.”
Rice athletics director Joe Karlgaard will address Bailiff’s situation at the conclusion of the 2016 season.
“I just don’t think it’s appropriate to comment on the status of a head coach during the season,” Karlgaard said.
“The reason I think that, is because once you start making comments on the performance of any of our coaches at any point during the season, you’re obligated to do that for any other coach at any time.
“As a matter of policy that’s not some place that I’m willing to go. At this point we’ll wait until the end of the season, and that’s when you’ll hear from me.”