Golf: Scott Tabbed To Succeed Ellis As Owls Golf Coach
5/16/2005
HOUSTON ? Rice graduate Drew Scott will succeed Dick Ellis as the Rice men's golf coach, athletic director Bobby May has announced.
Scott, currently the head men's coach at Texas-Pan American, led the independent Broncos to three top-10 finishes in 2005 after three top five finishes in his initial season as a coach in 2004.
Scott, 30, was a three-year letterman for the Owls under then-coach Jim Casta?eda, winning the Vic Cameron Award as the Owls' top player after the 1994 season. The native of Pinehurst, N.C., then transferred to the University of North Carolina for two years, but returned to Rice to play as a fifth-year senior in 1998. Scott shared the '98 Cameron Award with C.W. Mellon.
After earning his degree in human performance and health science in 1998, Scott played six years on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour. He represented the Pinehurst Resort as a playing professional and also served on the Canadian Tour's board of directors.
"I'm excited about the opportunity to return to Rice," said Scott, a member of Wiess College during his undergraduate years. "Working with a predominantly young team, we hope to be competitive right away in the new conference. There's a huge upside to Rice golf, and we're going to be building on that potential."
"Drew brings excellent credentials as the head of our golf team," said May. "In addition to being a Rice graduate, his playing and coaching career gives him the background we need to insure our future success as we move to Conference USA this summer."
Ellis will remain on the Rice staff as the special assistant to May and head football coach Ken Hatfield, a position he has held since coming to Rice in 1997. He led the Owls' golf program for two years.
?Dick and I agree, at this important juncture in school history when Rice moves to a new conference, it will be best for both programs if he devotes his total efforts to football and allows new leadership to be appointed for the golf team,? said May.
?I have enjoyed my work with the fine young men wearing the Rice colors on the golf links and greatly appreciate the help from (assistant coaches) Matt Swanson and Don Riddle,? said Ellis.?With the young players in the program and the improved facilities, there is no doubt in my mind that Rice golf can be very successful in C-USA. As I continue my work in the football program I will watch with personal interest as the Owls move forward in intercollegiate golf.?
"Dick Ellis is a valued member of our athletic staff and will play a major role as we transition to Conference USA," added May.
A former athletic director at Baylor, Ellis has been on the Rice staff for the past eight years, performing several duties within the department. His wealth of college experience has included stints as the recruiting coordinator at Arkansas and major involvement in athletic fund-raising efforts at Air Force, Clemson, Baylor and Rice. He has 23 years of college coaching experience.
The Owls completed the season in their final Western Athletic Conference championship on May 2-4 in Ruston, La., finishing fourth in the 10-team field.
