Ex-Texas HC David Pierce hired by Rice

David Pierce is heading back to Houston.

Two hundred and sixty-six days after being terminated on the Forty Acres, the former Texas Longhorns head coach was hired by the Rice Owls on Monday to replace Jose Cruz Jr., fired last week after a 2-10 start to the season and a 63-126 record over three-plus seasons as the replacement for legendary head coach Wayne Graham.

“Rice represents a very special place for my family and me, and I am truly honored to have this opportunity to return to Reckling Park as the head coach of the Owls. “I owe a great deal of my success as a head coach to my time at Rice, and I firmly believe we have all the elements in place to add to the great tradition here,” Pierce…