Andrew Rice was named SWOSU's head coach on December 13, 2023.
This past fall in 2025, in Rice’s second season at the helm, the Dawgs took yet another step forward, finishing 6-5 for the program’s first winning season since 2015. The Bulldogs claimed unofficial Oklahoma State Champion status with a perfect 5-0 record against in-state opponents. The successful season was reflected on the GAC’s all-conference teams, as a program-record 12 players went on to earn All-GAC honors.
SWOSU set a new program rushing record, totaling 2,347 yards on the ground as a team in 2025. Against Oklahoma Baptist, the team racked up 388 yards matched the Bulldogs’ GAC high dating back to 2011. Senior quarterback MJ Rivers went on to set new program records in completion percentage (65.8%) and passing efficiency (157.3). On defense, SWOSU ranked fifth in the nation by allowing just 157.5 yards per game through the air.
Rice and the Bulldogs earned the first win on Homecoming since 2017 when they defeated East Central 38-14 on October 25, and a win in the state of Arkansas for the first time since 2018 with a 49-7 rout of Arkansas-Monticello on November 1. SWOSU closed the season scoring 30 or more points in eight of the final nine games. The program had never seen 30-plus point scoring outputs in eight games in its D2 history until the 2025 season.
In his first season leading the Bulldogs, he guided the program to a 3-8 record — a strong turnaround from a winless 0-11 campaign the year before his arrival. The 2024 season was highlighted by a dominant 50-0 victory over Northwestern Oklahoma State in the finale, marking the program’s first shutout in more than 20 years. Four Bulldogs earned All-Great American Conference honors under Rice in year one, the most All-GAC selections for SWOSU since 2016. Among them was defensive back Desmond Greene, who became the program’s seventh All-Super Region 3 honoree after leading NCAA Division II in interceptions per game and finishing the year with seven total picks.
In 2024, the Dawgs were opportunistic on defense, ranking fourth in Division II in takeaways, 12th in interceptions, and 20th in red zone defense. Within the Great American Conference, SWOSU led the league in takeaways, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, and interceptions.
Prior to SWOSU, Rice spent the past two years as a successful Offensive Coordinator at Southern Arkansas University but has a decade of coaching experience throughout Oklahoma's high school and collegiate landscapes as an Oklahoma native himself. He replaced
Ruzell McCoy who served as SWOSU's interim coach for the 2023 season.
Off the field, Rice has emphasized academic and community excellence in Weatherford. The Bulldogs have posted a 3.0 cumulative GPA across the four semesters under his leadership, while the program also logged more than 1,200 hours of community service during the spring of 2024 – an offseason benchmark Rice has said is the standard moving forward.
Rice began his coaching career climbing through the high school ranks with positions at Bixby, Charles Page, and Bartlesville before earning a head coaching role at Miami (OK) High School. He then transitioned to the college game where he has remained for the past six years. Rice coached for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) before moving on to the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) and finally Southern Arkansas.
Rice had the Mulerider offense operating on a national level while at Southern Arkansas. SAU was third in NCAA Division II in rushing and fifth in total offense in 2023 after ranking sixth nationally in both rushing and third down conversion percentage a year prior.
The Muleriders finished 10-2 this season, earning the first postseason win in the program's D2 era with a 43-27 victory over Missouri Western in the Live United Bowl. It was SAU's first double-digit win total in over 70 years, thanks in large part to an offense averaging over 38.5 points and 477 yards per game.
Prior to Southern Arkansas, Rice was at UCO as the Passing Game Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach where he headed the recruitment for the OKC/Tulsa area.
He began his collegiate coaching career as the Offensive Coordinator at NEO. Rice guided a Norseman offense that finished third in the country in total offense and featured the conference's offensive MVP. NEO finished 8-3, reaching the SWJCFC championship game while also making an appearance in the 2019 Midwest Classic Bowl.
Originally from Owasso, Oklahoma, Rice obtained a Bachelor of Science in Health & Physical Education from Northeastern State University in 2012 following a playing career with the RiverHawks where he was a member of NSU's Lone Star Conference North Division Championship team.
The Rice File
Coaching Career
2023-pres.: SWOSU: (Head Coach)
2022-23: Southern Arkansas (Offensive Coordinator / QBs)
2020-21: Central Oklahoma (Passing Game Coordinator / Wide Receivers)
2018-20: Northeastern A&M College (Offensive, Recruiting, Academic Coordinator)
2017-18: Miami HS (Head Coach)
2015-17: Bartlesville HS (Offensive Coordinator)
2013-15: Charles Page HS (Offensive Coordinator)
2012: Bixby HS (Offensive Assistant)
Playing Career
Northeastern State
2008-11
Education
Northeastern State University
Bachelor of Science Degree in Health & Physical Education, 2012
