Football
- Title:
- Tight Ends
- Email:
- fbrecruiting@rice.edu
- Phone:
- 348-6900
Bill Best is in his second year as the Owls' tight end coach.
Best returns Jordan Myers and Jaeger Bull, who made the bulk of the starts at tight end in 2018 while combining for 20 catches and a pair of touchdowns. They will be joined by redshirt sophomore Jonathan Sanchez, who sat out last year while recovering from an injury and redshirt freshman Robert French, who saw action in the final two games.
No stranger to the Gulf Coast area, Best came to Rice after four seasons as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Stephen F. Austin University.
Under Best's guidance, SFA's offense averaged over 435 yards per game the last two years, and topped 200 yards per game on the ground in 2017 (204.6) One of the areas hardest hit by injuries during the 2016 campaign, a number of linemen emerged at a number of positions, led by junior Josh Keith being named a second team All-SLC selection following the 2016 season.
In charge of one of the most experienced offensive lines in the nation in 2015, Best's contingent came up big in crucial situations for the Lumberjacks. Senior Byron Williams ended the season as a second team All-Southland Conference selection following his preseason third team All-America honors by STATS FCS.
Following the 2015 campaign, Terran Vaughn signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Oakland and spent time on the Bills practice squad in 2016s while Williams earned an training camp invite from Best has seen 11 of his former players go on to sign professional contracts following their collegiate days.
SFA's offensive line proved to be a critical component for the Lumberjacks' five-win improvement in 2014. Behind the veteran line, running back Gus Johnson rushed for 1,683 yards and 23 touchdowns, setting an SFA and Southland Conference single-season record, while quarterback Zach Conque earned the SLC's Newcomer of the Year, led by junior Byron Williams earning first team All-SLC honors.
Best came to SFA after spending the previous two seasons as the offensive line coach for Central Arkansas. Best spent seven seasons at West Texas A&M, beginning his career with the Buffs in 2006 as a graduate assistant before being elevated to associate head coach and offensive line coach in 2007. In 2011 he served as offensive coordinator for the Buffaloes.
Best spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Ranger College (2004-05) after beginning his coaching career at the high school level in Louisiana.
Best was an offensive lineman and long snapper at Millsaps College and Louisiana-Monroe, earning his degree from ULM in 2001 and earned his masters from West Texas A&M in 2007.
Best and his wife, Jennifer, are the parents of twins Hannah and Brady.
