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1996 Rice Owls Veer Option Offense - Ken Hatfield

Ken Hatfield was the coach of the 1996 Rice football team.

Ken Hatfield was an American football player and coach who served as the head coach of various college football teams. He played college football at the University of Arkansas and went on to play professionally in the NFL. As a coach, Hatfield was known for his success in building strong defenses and developing effective running games. He coached at Rice University from 1994 to 2005, leading the team to four bowl games and two conference championships during his tenure.

In 1996, Rice had a 7-4 overall record and a 5-2 record in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The team finished second in the WAC's Mountain Division, behind BYU. Rice's defense was particularly strong in 1996, holding opponents to an average of just 18.3 points per game, which ranked 10th in the nation. However, their offense struggled at times, averaging only 19.5 points per game.

Despite the offensive struggles, Rice did have some notable wins in 1996, including victories over Houston and Fresno State. The team was led by quarterback Chad Nelson and running back Trevor Cobb, who rushed for 1,188 yards and 11 touchdowns that season.

Ken Hatfield was known for running a triple-option offense during his time as a football coach, which emphasizes the running game and involves three possible ball carriers on each play: the fullback, quarterback, and a pitch back. This style requires precise execution and discipline from the players, as the quarterback must read the defense and make quick decisions on whether to hand the ball off or keep it himself, while the other two backs must be ready to take the ball at any time. Hatfield's offense at Rice in 1996 was no exception, as the team rushed for over 2,400 yards and 22 touchdowns on the season, with their top three rushers each averaging over 4.5 yards per carry.

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