ATLANTA — Georgia Tech is mourning the loss of one of its former director of athletics.
Dr. Homer Rice died at 97 on Monday and was the Yellow Jackets' athletics director from 1980 until 1997, according to the university.
With Rice's leadership, the university revitalized its athletics program and won its fourth football national championship in 1990. Its men's basketball team also won its first Atlantic Coast Conference championship in 1985 and made its first NCAA Final Four appearance in 1990. The baseball team also advanced to the College World Series for the first time in 1994.
During Rice's time as the athletic director, he hired some of Tech's most successful and legendary head coaches, ranging from Bobby Cremins in basketball, Bobby Ross and George O'Leary in football, Jim Morris and Danny Hall in baseball, as well as Bruce Heppler in golf. Tech also won 16 ACC championships across five sports during his tenure, according to the university.
But what may be one of his biggest legacies is developing and implementing the Total Person Program at Tech. This went on to be the model for the NCAA Life Skills Program that is now practiced across college athletics, the university said. He taught a leadership class until recently and also wrote a number of books on leadership success.
Georgia Tech Head Football Coach Brent Key took to social media on Monday night to send condolences to the Rice family during this time. Key also expressed how Rice influenced him and how generations have benefitted from his influence at the university.
"On a personal level, Coach Rice was an inspiration to me and someone that I aspired to model myself after as a coach and a leader. He taught me the term "Tech Man," a label that I hold as one of the greatest compliments in the world," Key wrote. "But on a much larger level, Coach Rice is one of the most impactful figures in the history of Georgia Tech and all of college athletics. Tech Athletics flourished under his leadership, and generations of Yellow Jackets -- and student-athletes across the nation -- have benefitted from his Total Person philosophy."
Amidst all of his distinctions and honors, the Homer Rice Award is presented annually to an NCAA Division I FBS athletics director who has made significant and meaningful contributions to intercollegiate athletics. Also, in 2021, a statue of Rice was dedicated outside of Bobby Dodd Stadium -- making him one of three athletic figures commemorated with a statue at the university. He joins John Heisman and Bobby Dodd with that honor, the university said.
Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera said that Rice's message and legacy of excellence are crucial at a time of change in athletics.
"Homer has reminded us through his career that the ultimate goal of intercollegiate athletics is to help student-athletes grow fully as people," Cabrera stated. "At a time of profound changes in athletics, Homer's message and legacy is more important than ever.
Rice is survived by his wife, three daughters, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, the university stated.
