Recruiting Areas – Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Northern California, Kentucky, West Virginia
Paul Rice enters his second year on the Columbia Football Coaching Staff as its Linebackers Coach and Special Teams Coordinator.
In his first season, Rice oversaw a group of linebackers that totaled 187 tackles in 2022. The unit had 16.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and five interceptions for the year. Senior Scott Valentas led the group with 93 tackles, 6.5 TFL, one sack and four interceptions. On the special teams side, senior placekicker Alex Felkins was 11-for-16 on field goal attempts. His long was a 53-yarder in the season opener at Marist, which was the longest made field goal in the Ivy League in 2022. The Lions were a perfect 28-for-28 on PATs as one of just three Ivy schools to be perfect in that category. Columbia averaged 60.4 yards on kickoffs and 17.3 yards on kickoff returns.
Rice arrives at Columbia after working one season as a Defensive Analyst with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons (2021-22). With the Falcons, Rice’s primary responsibilities included providing defensive insight through research and review of statistics.
Prior to his role with the Falcons, Rice served as the Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach for three years at Fordham University (2018-20). Overall, six of his defensive players earned All-Patriot League honors, including four who earned First Team All-Conference. In 2019, Rice guided a defense that saw three players earn All-Patriot League accolades with linebackers Glenn Cunningham and Greenhagen taking home first team accolades and defensive lineman Ellis Taylor being named to the second team. Additionally, Greenhagen earned HERO Sports Sophomore All-America honors after leading the Patriot League in tackles for loss per game (1.54) and ranking second in tackles per game (10.2). Greenhagen was also third in the NCAA FCS in solo tackles per game (6.8) list, 12th in total tackles per game and 14th in tackles for loss per game. In his first year at Fordham, Rice saw three players earn 2018 All-Patriot League honors, including linebacker Glenn Cunningham, who led the conference in tackles for loss with a school single season record of 21.5. Overall, the Fordham defense led the Patriot League in tackles for loss and was third in red zone defense.
Before moving to New York City and Fordham, he previously coached five years at his alma mater Yale (2013-17), serving as Outside Linebackers Coach for the entire tenure and Special Teams Coordinator from 2015-17. Rice helped the Yale defense rank No. 1 in scoring defense in the Ivy League in 2017 as well as No. 2 in defensive pass efficiency. He coached two First Team All-Ivy players and one Second Team honoree, and was selected as one of the top-30 coaches under the age of 30 in the NCAA/NAIA/High School ranks by the American Football Coaches Association.
Rice began his college coaching career as an Offensive Graduate Assistant Coach at Georgia Tech in 2012, where he helped the Yellow Jackets to a 2012 Sun Bowl victory over Southern California.
He also played one season for the L’Hospitalet Pioners (Barcelona, Spain) in the spring of 2011. He served as a player/coach, competing on both sides of the ball and helping the Pioners to a national championship.
Rice earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Yale in 2010. On the football field, he was a team captain, four-year starter, and three-time All-Ivy League cornerback/linebacker, including a First Team selection as a senior following the 2009 season. In his career, he accumulated 196 tackles, six interceptions, and three fumble recoveries, along with numerous other big plays.
A former Ohio Division III co-defensive player of the year and National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete at University High School in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Rice helped the Bulldogs lead the nation in scoring defense in consecutive seasons. A First Team All-Ohio safety, First Team Ohio News Network All-Ohio, he was selected to play in the prestigious Big 33 All-Star game.
THE PAUL RICE FILE
Birthdate: July 3, 1988
Hometown: Hunting Valley, Ohio
Education
Bachelor of Science, Political Science, Yale University, 2010
Coaching Career
Linebackers Coach/Special Teams Coordinator, Columbia University, 2022-current
Defensive Analyst, Atlanta Falcons, 2021-22
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach, Fordham University, 2018-21
Defensive Backs Coach/Special Teams Coordinator, Yale University, 2017-18
Special Teams Coordinator/Outside Linebackers Coach, Yale University, 2013-16
Offensive Graduate Assistant Coach, Georgia Tech Institute, 2012-13
Director of Football Operations, Yale University, 2012
Playing Career
Career totals include 196 tackles, six interceptions, three fumble recoveries, a 55-yard run off a fumble recovery (at Princeton in 2007), a 34-yard run off a fake punt (at Holy Cross in 2007), and a 40-yard touchdown run on a fake punt (at Lehigh in 2009) ... Earned FCS All-New England honors … First-Team All-Ivy honoree … Charley Loftus Rookie of the Year Award winner in 2006.
