ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - UCF head coach Becky Cramer has announced the addition of two-time national coach of the year Montia Rice as an assistant coach for the rowing team.
The 2018 and 2019 NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year, Rice comes to UCF after leading Central Oklahoma to back-to-back NCAA Division II national championships in his three seasons at the helm.
"I am extremely excited to welcome Montia and his family to UCF," Cramer said. "His ability to recruit and develop athletes at UCO while ultimately winning two national championships is very impressive. I am looking forward to the excitement and enthusiasm he will bring to our program."
In 2017 – Rice’s first season leading the Bronchos – UCO was the runner-up at NCAAs, finishing just one point behind Western Washington in the team standings. Under his leadership that year, the Varsity 8 won the event title, helping the Bronchos secure enough points to finish second overall.
Under Rice’s guidance, Central Oklahoma has had 11 All-American selections, including eight first team honorees.
Rice joined the UCO staff in July of 2014, primarily working with the novice team and the Varsity 4 while also being heavily involved in recruiting. He took over as head coach in the fall of 2016.
In his first year as an assistant, Rice led the Varsity 4 to a fourth-place finish at nationals while helping the novice Bronchos to a second-place showing at the Dad Vail Regatta, a premiere event in Philadelphia, Pa.
Prior to Central Oklahoma, he coached the men's rowing team at Jacksonville University, serving as the head coach for two years. Under his leadership, JU won three state championships in a row. His Freshman 8 finished runner-up at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships and won The Dad Vail Regatta.
The Varsity 8s made both finals at SIRAs and won the petite final at Dad Vails. Rice also oversaw the University of Florida Crew Club for four years after having started his coaching career at Jacksonville, his alma mater, as a volunteer coach.
Originally from Enid, Okla., and a product of St. Augustine Prep School in Richland, N.J., Rice was a four-year rowing standout at Jacksonville. He won titles at both the FIRAs and SIRA championships as well as medaling at Dad Vails during his career. He graduated from JU in 2006 with a history degree.