Abell Announces Updates to Football Staff
12/20/2024 1:41:00 PM | Football
Five newcomers join three returners on coaching staff
Houston- Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach Scott Abell officially announced on Friday the names of eight coaches who will join him for his inaugural season on South Main as well as two staff additions and a new strength & conditioning coach. Two additional on-field assistants will be finalized in the near future.
"I am so excited about the staff we are surrounding our program with," Abell stated. "Quality people that have a strong history of winning, developing leaders, recruiting Texas, and recruiting top scholar-athletes."
The eight coaches include four who previously worked with Abell at Davidson, three who were on the staff at Rice last season, and one who began his career at Rice.
Munch coached the offensive lineman at Davidson for the past seven seasons and served as the Run Game Coordinator for five years. The Wildcats led the NCAA FCS division in rushing five times in the last seven years and led the nation in scoring in 2023, while seven of his linemen earned Pioneer League All-Conference honors. Munch also was a member of Scott Abell's staff at Washington & Lee from 2012-16.
Kay takes over as defensive coordinator after joining the Owls' staff in 2023 as linebacker coach after a glittering high school career at Galena Park North Shore High School. His 2024 linebacker corps at Rice was one the deepest position groups on the team, led by true sophomore Ty Morris, who was second on the team with 56 tackles.
Porter Abell joined the Davidson staff in 2018 after a standout career at Richmond as a quarterback, running back and wide receiver, highlighted by a conference championship and a number three national ranking. He first coached the wide receivers before adding the tight ends in the spring of 2020 and serving as recruiting coordinator. Nine of his pupils went on to earn All-Pioneer League honors.
Eisenhofer coached at Davidson for the last seven years, first coaching the tight ends before switching to the slot receivers in the spring of 2020, assisting on special teams and serving as video coordinator. He was a three-year starter and team captain for Abell at Washington & Lee from 2012-14.
Cooks joined the Owls as a defensive analyst before the 2024 season. He spent the previous two seasons at LSU, where he coached the safeties after following head coach Brian Kelly to Baton Rouge from Notre Dame. In 21 years as a coach at the P4 level, the native of Irving, Texas, has been a part of 18 bowl teams, three CFB Playoff games, and the BCS National Championship game with Notre Dame.
Hogan coached safeties at Davidson from 2018-21 before moving on to Charlotte, where he coached the nickels the past three seasons. In 2019, he coached Dreylan Hines, the Pioneer Football League Co-Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and HERO Sports All-America freshman honorable mention honoree. Hogan has assisted on all phases of special teams throughout his career at Texas State, Davidson and Charlotte.
Mayes became a standout offensive guard after walking on at Kansas and was named the Jayhawks' lineman of the year as a senior. He came to Rice as a graduate assistant in 2011 and was on the staff for the Owls' 2013 Conference USA championship. He coached for three seasons at Texas State (2016-18) and four seasons at North Texas (2019-22) before moving on to Tulsa, where he coached running backs in 2023 and tight ends while also serving as run game coordinator in 2024.
Modkins joined the Owls in the spring of 2023 and cornerbacks have been models of consistency in his first two years. This past season, Modkins relied on the same starting corners for all 12 games (Sean Fresch and Max Ahoia), and both enjoyed career years. His first season with the Owls saw Fresch continue to develop into a leader in the defensive backfield. At the same time, senior Tre'shon Devones became one of the highest-ranked corners in the country, according to PFF.
Decker comes to Rice after eight seasons at Davidson as the Wildcats' Director of Football Operations, overseeing the department's daily operations. He was the Director of Football Operations at Charlotte in 2023 before returning to Davidson as the Assistant AD for Operations in 2024.
Jackson joined Abell's staff at Davison in 2018 coaching the defensive line and was promoted to Assistant Head Coach in 2022. He played for Coach Abell in high school and went on to a decorated career at Shepard University. Jackson will oversee the Owls' recruiting at both the high school level and collegiate level as the team's General Manager.
Caralla has directed the strength and conditioning programs at five FBS programs over nearly 20 years, including the last two years at Charlotte. In 2023, he was one of 27 members of the profession to be named a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Associate, and in 2018, he was named Football Scoop's Strength Coach of the Year while at Buffalo.
"I am so excited about the staff we are surrounding our program with," Abell stated. "Quality people that have a strong history of winning, developing leaders, recruiting Texas, and recruiting top scholar-athletes."
The eight coaches include four who previously worked with Abell at Davidson, three who were on the staff at Rice last season, and one who began his career at Rice.
- Vince Munch-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line
- Jon Kay- Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
- Porter Abell-Pass Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks
- Austin Eisenhofer-Run Game Coordinator/Inside Receivers
- Kerry Cooks-Safeties
- Mark Hogan-Outside Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator
- Adrian Mayes-Running Backs
- Jeremy Modkins-Cornerbacks
- Nick Decker-Chief of Staff
- Steven Jackson-General Manager
- Lew Caralla- Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
Munch coached the offensive lineman at Davidson for the past seven seasons and served as the Run Game Coordinator for five years. The Wildcats led the NCAA FCS division in rushing five times in the last seven years and led the nation in scoring in 2023, while seven of his linemen earned Pioneer League All-Conference honors. Munch also was a member of Scott Abell's staff at Washington & Lee from 2012-16.
Kay takes over as defensive coordinator after joining the Owls' staff in 2023 as linebacker coach after a glittering high school career at Galena Park North Shore High School. His 2024 linebacker corps at Rice was one the deepest position groups on the team, led by true sophomore Ty Morris, who was second on the team with 56 tackles.
Porter Abell joined the Davidson staff in 2018 after a standout career at Richmond as a quarterback, running back and wide receiver, highlighted by a conference championship and a number three national ranking. He first coached the wide receivers before adding the tight ends in the spring of 2020 and serving as recruiting coordinator. Nine of his pupils went on to earn All-Pioneer League honors.
Eisenhofer coached at Davidson for the last seven years, first coaching the tight ends before switching to the slot receivers in the spring of 2020, assisting on special teams and serving as video coordinator. He was a three-year starter and team captain for Abell at Washington & Lee from 2012-14.
Cooks joined the Owls as a defensive analyst before the 2024 season. He spent the previous two seasons at LSU, where he coached the safeties after following head coach Brian Kelly to Baton Rouge from Notre Dame. In 21 years as a coach at the P4 level, the native of Irving, Texas, has been a part of 18 bowl teams, three CFB Playoff games, and the BCS National Championship game with Notre Dame.
Hogan coached safeties at Davidson from 2018-21 before moving on to Charlotte, where he coached the nickels the past three seasons. In 2019, he coached Dreylan Hines, the Pioneer Football League Co-Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and HERO Sports All-America freshman honorable mention honoree. Hogan has assisted on all phases of special teams throughout his career at Texas State, Davidson and Charlotte.
Mayes became a standout offensive guard after walking on at Kansas and was named the Jayhawks' lineman of the year as a senior. He came to Rice as a graduate assistant in 2011 and was on the staff for the Owls' 2013 Conference USA championship. He coached for three seasons at Texas State (2016-18) and four seasons at North Texas (2019-22) before moving on to Tulsa, where he coached running backs in 2023 and tight ends while also serving as run game coordinator in 2024.
Modkins joined the Owls in the spring of 2023 and cornerbacks have been models of consistency in his first two years. This past season, Modkins relied on the same starting corners for all 12 games (Sean Fresch and Max Ahoia), and both enjoyed career years. His first season with the Owls saw Fresch continue to develop into a leader in the defensive backfield. At the same time, senior Tre'shon Devones became one of the highest-ranked corners in the country, according to PFF.
Decker comes to Rice after eight seasons at Davidson as the Wildcats' Director of Football Operations, overseeing the department's daily operations. He was the Director of Football Operations at Charlotte in 2023 before returning to Davidson as the Assistant AD for Operations in 2024.
Jackson joined Abell's staff at Davison in 2018 coaching the defensive line and was promoted to Assistant Head Coach in 2022. He played for Coach Abell in high school and went on to a decorated career at Shepard University. Jackson will oversee the Owls' recruiting at both the high school level and collegiate level as the team's General Manager.
Caralla has directed the strength and conditioning programs at five FBS programs over nearly 20 years, including the last two years at Charlotte. In 2023, he was one of 27 members of the profession to be named a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Associate, and in 2018, he was named Football Scoop's Strength Coach of the Year while at Buffalo.
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