Rice rewards Bailiff with new 5-year contract

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Even through three straight losing seasons, David Bailiff and his Rice coaching staff remained "undeterred in our vision."

Things came into focus nicely last season, as the Owls enjoyed one of their best seasons.

"We proved we can do it," Bailiff said.

Bailiff, who led Rice to its first outright conference title in 56 years, was rewarded with a new five-year contract Friday that will keep him at the helm through the 2018 season.

The new deal replaces the three-year extension Bailiff, 55, signed last year. Financial details were not immediately available because Rice is a private school.

"David Bailiff is exactly the right leader for our football program," Rice director of athletics Joe Karlgaard said.

On the right path

Rice coach David Bailiff's new contract will keep him with the Owls for at least five more seasons.

Rice coach David Bailiff's new contract will keep him with the Owls for at least five more seasons. Photo: Eric Gay, Associated Press Photo: Eric Gay, Associated Press Image 1 of / 279 Caption Close Rice rewards Bailiff with new 5-year contract 1 / 279 Back to Gallery

Rice captured the Conference USA championship in December for its first outright title in any conference since 1957. The Owls posted only the third 10-win season in school history.

"It lets you know we're recruiting the right type of student-athletes here and you can win at Rice and can do it keeping the values of the school intact," Bailiff said. "When we came here we had a belief we could do that."

It hasn't always been easy.

At the time of his arrival, Bailiff was the third Owls coach in as many years following the firing of Ken Hatfield and departure of Todd Graham after one season.

After 2008 produced 10 wins and the most prolific offense in school history, the Owls stumbled to 2-10, 4-8 and 4-8.

One of the goals, Bailiff said, was to build stability, which the Owls have begun to do with back-to-back bowl appearances and inroads with recruiting.

The Owls have won 17 games the past two seasons, matching the best two-year stretch in school history. Rice also has been recognized with the prestigious American Football Coaches Association's Academic Achievement Award twice in the last four years.

Showing support

"We need to work on consistency to where every year we are going to bowl games and competing for conference championships, and at the same time have the highest graduation rates in the country," Bailiff said.

The decision to tear up Bailiff's old deal so soon, Karlgaard said, was to have his own arrangement with Bailiff after taking the job in October.

"I wanted an agreement with our football coach that reflected my belief in him and that kind of turned the page on a former era," he said.

Bailiff capped last season by being named C-USA Coach of the Year for the second time and a finalist for the Paul "Bear" Bryant national coach of the year award. Next season will be his eighth with the Owls, the longest-tenured coach in C-USA.

"It's been a wonderful eight years and I'm looking forward to five more," Bailiff said.