David Bailiff will continue as Rice's head football coach
David Bailiff
HOUSTON (FOX 26) - While there was speculation to the contrary, Rice University head coach David Bailiff will continue to run the Owls football program.
College football sources told FOX 26 Sports Bailiff will be retained by Rice and will return in 2017.
He has two years left on his contract.
Rice is 8-16 over the past two seasons, including 3-9 in 2016.
However, Bailiff is one of the most successful coaches in the history of Owls football.
“My biggest concern, as it was 10 years ago, is taking great care of this football team, and I think I’ve done that," Bailiff told FOX 26 Sports on Nov. 14.
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.
Rice has three 10-win seasons in its history, and two of them were accomplished on Bailiff's watch.
His record at Rice is 56-69.
Bailiff recently moved past tied Ken Hatfield for second place on the Owls all-time career victory list, and Hatfield was at Rice for 12 years.