St. George’s has hired Tyler Rice as its new football coach, athletic director Michelle York announced in a letter to parents on Thursday.
Rice brings 20 years of experience as football player and coach at the high school and college levels to the Gryphons. He replaces coach Andrew Atkins, who left after finishing the 2024 season with a 1-8 record.
Rice currently leads the Memphis division of QB Country, a quarterback training and development company, the letter states. Prior to QB Country, Rice was an assistant at North Alabama, Tennessee Martin (where he played two seasons) and Murray State, the school from which he graduated.
Five of the receivers Rice coached at UT Martin went on to play professionally according to the letter: Jaylon Moore (Baltimore Ravens), Donnell Williams (Tennessee Titans), Colton Dowell (Tennessee Titans), Terry Williams (Ottawa Red Blacks), and Rodney Williams (Denver Broncos).
Prior to his time as a coach, Rice was the winner of the 2010 Class 1A Mr. Football Award as a quarterback at Wayne County. He was a also a three-time Tennessee Sports Writer’s Association All-State honoree and a four-year letter winner in basketball.
COACH HIRESArlington football hires Jesse Jones as coach, replacing Tommy Miller
St. George’s graduated its first class back in 2006 and has had success with its football program, winning DII-A state titles in 2007, 2011 and 2015. The school hopes Rice can begin building to some of that same success when his tenure begins on Jan. 20.
“With his extensive experience, vision for youth development, and commitment to building winning programs, Coach Rice will usher in a new era of football at St. George’s,” Head of School Luke Pruett said in the letter.
“It is an incredible honor to be named the head football coach of the St. George’s Gryphons,” Rice said. “St. George’s is a special place, and together, we will build a winning culture. I look forward to getting started.”
Wendell Shepherd Jr. is The Commercial Appeal’s high school sports beat writer. Reach Wendell at wendell.shepherd@commercialappeal.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @wendellsjr_.
