Dennis Rice

Biography

For 41 years, Dennis Rice has been behind the success of The College of Wooster's men's and women's cross country and track & field programs. Now in his 37th year as head coach after serving four years as an assistant, Rice has developed a well-deserved reputation for his ability to train student-athletes to reach their full potential. He recently surpassed Wooster legend Carl Munson as the longest-tenured head cross country coach in program history. He took on administrative responsibilities as assistant athletic director with oversight of NCAA compliance in August, 2021, in addition to his coaching duties. During his 41 years on the coaching staff, the Fighting Scots have won six North Coast Athletic Conference team championships in cross country, highlighted by three-straight for the women from 1996-98, and seven in track & field (four indoor, three outdoor). For his efforts, Rice has been recognized as the conference's Coach of the Year four times in cross country and four times in track & field. He was also named the Ohio Div. III Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1996 after guiding the women's team to a school-best 15th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. A graduate of Edinboro University in northeast Pennsylvania, Rice was inducted into his alma mater's athletic Hall of Fame after serving as a team captain in cross country and track and earning two All-American citations for one of NCAA Div. II's premier running programs. He went on to serve as an assistant coach