Scott Rice is a big believer in branding.
He isn’t one to settle for part way, which is why the Skyview assistant coach jumped on the task immediately after being named Ridgefield’s head football coach Thursday.
“If we’re going to build a brand and build an image of what people in Southwest Washington think if Ridgefield football, which needs to be built,” he said, “it’s probably best to start Day 1.”
It’s the first head-coaching job for Rice, 31. He spent the past five seasons as an assistant for the Class 4A Storm, coaching the offensive line for head coach Steve Kizer. Before that, Rice spent four years at Aberdeen.
The Colville, Wash., native takes over a Class 2A Spudders program that went 3-5 in an 8-game 2017 season under interim coach Chris Abrams. Previous head coach Kim Ulman departed just before the start of fall practices last August.
Rice said there’s not many programs he’d leave Skyview for, but always kept an eye on Ridgefield. He called Ridgefield the future not only locally, but also statewide.
“Their leadership is forward thinking as far as where they want a football program to fit inside of their much-bigger picture,” Rice said. … “With what they’re doing and what they’re putting into programs and into their academics and growing eventually to a 4A program, it excites me tremendously to be able to be a part of that growth.”
Rice teaches social studies at Skyview and also coaches track and field in the spring. He said he plans to be in-building at Ridgefield this fall pending a teaching job offer.
RIdgefield athletic director Brynan Shipley said Thursday Rice’s vision, sense of community, plans for development of a program-wise philosophy and overall sense of culture were qualities that set the coach apart in the selection process.
“He’s a forward-thinking coach with a contagious passion and enthusiasm for the game,” she said.
