Dr. Homer Rice, the legendary former director of athletics at Georgia Tech, has passed away at the age of 97 on June 10. He served as the Yellow Jackets’ athletics director from 1980-1997 and during his tenure, he hired some of Tech’s most successful head coaches, such as Bobby Cremins in basketball, Bobby Ross and George O’Leary in football, Jim Morris and Danny Hall in baseball, and Bruce Heppler in golf. Under his leadership, Georgia Tech won 16 ACC championships across five different sports.
Even after retiring as the athletic director, Dr. Rice continued to teach a leadership class at Georgia Tech and authored several books on leadership success. In 2021, a statue of Dr. Rice was unveiled outside of Bobby Dodd Stadium, where it now stands alongside statues of legendary Georgia Tech coaches John Heisman and Bobby Dodd. Dr. Rice’s impact on Georgia Tech athletics and the community as a whole will always be remembered and cherished. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of student-athletes and leaders.
