Rice is Ready
6/26/2025 11:30:00 AM | General
A letter to the Rice Athletics community
Dear Rice Athletics Community,
As the academic and athletic year comes to a close, I want to thank you for your unwavering support of our student-athletes, coaches, and programs. Together, we've celebrated historic wins, personal bests, and milestones that have further cemented Rice Athletics' reputation for excellence on the field, in the classroom, and beyond.
In the coming days, we will take time to honor those accomplishments. However, it's clear this offseason marks a pivotal chapter in the history of college athletics. The House v. NCAA settlement—recently approved—ushers in a new era, allowing for direct institutional support to student-athletes and redefining the framework for scholarships.
Rice is ready. We've chosen to opt into the settlement and begin operating under the new model effective July 1. This is a decision we have been preparing for with great intentionality. I truly believe we are as well-positioned as any institution in the country to thrive in this next era.
At Rice, we will always put academic excellence at the center of our mission. We also understand that the future of college athletics will require innovation, investment, and bold leadership. That's why, beginning July 1, Rice Athletics will strategically expand scholarship opportunities across several programs and provide direct institutional support, ensuring we can recruit, retain, and develop the most exceptional student-athletes in the nation.
To lead these efforts, we've brought on an extraordinary talent in Tasha Moser, our new Associate Athletic Director for NIL and General Manager. A U.S. Olympic medalist, NCAA champion, and accomplished attorney in NIL strategy and athlete advocacy, Tasha brings unmatched expertise, energy, and credibility to this important work. Her leadership is a cornerstone of our NIL program—one that prioritizes education, transparency, and long-term athlete success.
This spring, we also launched the South Main Fund, which offers donors a new opportunity to impact Rice Athletics directly in the NIL and student-athlete support space. These tax-deductible contributions can be designated for specific programs, helping us build a sustainable model for success.
We remain committed to our foundational pillars—academic excellence, athletic development, and leadership growth. That will never change. What's evolving is how we support and empower our student-athletes to thrive in every facet of their Rice experience and beyond.
Thanks to the bold vision of President DesRoches, the steadfast support of our Board of Trustees, and the loyalty of our Rice community, we're not just responding to change—we're helping define what success looks like in this new age of college athletics.
Thank you for standing with us as we work to build a "Best-in-Class" athletics program.
The best is yet to come.
