FBS

Rice Joins Kill's Staff as Aggies' Safeties Coach

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Announced Friday by NM State head coach Jerry Kill, Melvin Rice has been installed as the Aggies' co defensive coordinator and safeties coach for 2022 and beyond.

Directly before agreeing to join Kill's staff, Rice called Philadelphia, Pa., home as he coached the cornerbacks at Temple University from 2020-21.

Rice's time at Temple continued his affiliation with Owls' head coach Rod Carey who he also served under during Carey's time as Northern Illinois' head coach.

During Rice's tenure at NIU, the defense was very productive in the passing game averaging over a dozen interceptions and 43 PBUs. The cornerback unit tallied 11 picks, including two returned for scores from 2016-18. In 2018 NIU ranked in the top 50 in passing efficiency defense. In 2016, his star pupil, Shawun Lurry, tied the school record for interceptions in a career after making two, including a pick-six in the victory at Nebraska. Lurry, a 2015 All-American, finished his career with 16 interceptions.