University of North Carolina Athletics
Former A.D. Dr. Homer Rice Passes Away At 97
June 11, 2024 | General
Georgia Tech, where Rice worked as athletic director from 1980-97, announced the news Monday night.
Rice was UNC's A.D. for six years, an era that saw Dean Smith establish the Tar Heel men's basketball program as one of the nation's best for decades to come. It was the same period when several future college athletics heavyweights were undergraduates at Carolina. John Swofford (football letterman, future UNC A.D. and ACC commissioner), Jim Delany (men's basketball player and future Big Ten commissioner), Anson Dorrance (men's soccer player and longtime UNC women's soccer coach) and Roy Williams (future Hall of Fame UNC men's basketball coach) all were Tar Heels during Rice's tenure.
"Homer Rice was my inspiration to pursue a career in athletic administration when I graduated from UNC in 1971 while he was the Athletic Director," Swofford said on Monday in a statement. "He was my mentor then, and has been throughout my adult life."Â
A former football coach at the high school level and the University of Cincinnati before arriving in Chapel Hill, Rice left Carolina to serve as both head coach and athletic director at Rice University from 1976-77. He then was head coach of the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals in 1978 and '79.
Rice was Georgia Tech's athletic director from 1980-97. Among his notable hires were men's basketball coach Bobby Cremins, football coaches Bobby Ross and George O'Leary and baseball coaches Jim Morris and Danny Hall. Georgia Tech won a share of the 1990 football national championship and its first Atlantic Coast Conference basketball championship in 1985 while advancing to the Final Four in 1990.
The Yellow Jackets won 16 ACC championships in five sports during Rice's time leading the athletic department. Georgia Tech dedicated a statue of Rice outside of Bobby Dodd Stadium in 2021. Dodd and John Heisman are the only figures in Georgia Tech athletics to be commemorated with a statue.
Rice's wife of 64 years, Phyllis, died in 2013. He married his second wife, Karen, in 2015.
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• ACC Commissioner Jim PhillipsDr. Homer Rice dedicated his entire life to creating and promoting the total student-athlete. He was incredibly influential in the development of student-athletes, not only at North Carolina and Georgia Tech, but throughout college athletics. Dr. Rice's 'Total Person Program' was ahead of its time and paved the way for NCAA programming by preparing student-athletes for life beyond collegiate athletics. Each of the seven pillars of the 'Total Person' program continue to resonate with not only myself, but every one of Dr. Rice's peers, colleagues, and former student-athletes. Our thoughts, prayers and condolences are with the Rice family.
• John Swofford, UNC Athletic Director (1980-97) and ACC Commissioner (1997-2020)Homer Rice was my inspiration to pursue a career in athletic administration when I graduated from UNC in 1971 while he was the Athletic Director. He was my mentor then, and has been throughout my adult life. I had the privilege of serving for 17 years as an A.D. with him in the ACC while he was at Georgia Tech and I was at UNC.  Simply put, he was the best Athletic Director that I ever observed during my half century in college sports. He was the best leader, the most organized, the best motivator, the best innovator. He was full of integrity, decency and class. He was understated and humble, yet extremely successful. He lived his faith and his values every day. We have lost a truly special and positive man who had an immeasurable impact on uncountable lives. Nora and I send our heartfelt love and prayers to Karen and the entire Rice family.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.