Rice's David Bailiff is a candidate to become next head coach at UTSA
HOUSTON - David Bailiff, two-time Conference USA Coach of the Year at Rice, is a candidate to become the next head coach at UTSA.
College football sources told FOX 26 Sports UTSA officially asked for and received permission from Rice to speak with Bailiff.
Bailiff and UTSA officials have spoken at least once by phone according to sources with knowledge of the UTSA search.
The UTSA job opened when Larry Coker stepped down on Wednesday.
In 2008 Bailiff led Rice to its first 10-win season since 1949, that concluded with a win in the Texas Bowl, Rice’s first postseason victory since the 1954 Cotton Bowl.
Bailiff, who has led Rice to four bowl games, is the first coach in school history to take the Owls to three consecutive bowl games (2012-2014).
On Bailiff’s watch the Owls had the most the wins in school history over a two-year period (18) and three-year period (25).
When Bailiff led Rice to the Conference USA championship in 2013, it was the Owls’ first outright conference title since 1957.
Following the 2013 season Bailiff was named Conference USA Coach of the Year for the second time, and was a finalist for the Paul Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award given annually to the nation’s top college coach.
In nine seasons at Rice Bailiff has an overall record of 53-60, which includes two of the three 10-win seasons in school history.
Bailiff and Rice officials have not been available for comment.