Fostering. Mentoring. Nurturing. Fathers are like coaches in that they can teach us things we can’t learn anywhere else.
Jason Rice and Mark Rice enjoy a unique son-father bond. It’s a relationship enhanced by football, but not defined by it.
Jason Rice is the head football coach at Northern Lebanon and his dad Mark is one of his assistant coaches. It’s a situation that you don’t run across all that often, yet one that the Rices are enjoying to the fullest.
“Everybody knows he’s my dad,” said Jason Rice. “That almost puts like an automatic dad figure into the program. He’s the traditional dad figure. He’s stern and disciplined. But he’s also willing to pull players aside and explain things to them.”
“We always talk about family,” Jason continued. “It’s a good foundation to build a program on. When people see me living it and coaching with my family, it makes it even more special.”
“A big part of this for me is being with Jason,” said Mark. “I’m very, very, very proud of him. I tell everyone that the young man does a heck of a job. I know he has it in him, and he handles kids well. I want to see him get wins. They’re coming. The hard work and dedication is going to bring wins. It doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time.”
The Vikings are hovering around a .500 record in the season so far.
“These kids work hard,” said Mark. “They never give up, and it’s fun coaching kids like that. My job is to make kids better and teach football, make them understand that hard work pays off. Me being the dad of the head coach, it’s a flip-flop role. He’s the boss on the field.”
“It’s nearly inseparable, not only in football, but in life, too,” Jason said, referring to his relationship with his dad. “He’s my best friend and he’s the guy I’ve leaned on all my life. He’s always supported me and made me accountable. He molded me into the guy I am today. He was always there. That was the one thing I could always count on.”
Jason Rice took over as Northern Lebanon’s head man three years ago. After spending his first year as a general assistant coach, Mark is in his second season of being the Vikings’ defensive coordinator.
If Jason was going to do the best coaching job he possibly could, he knew his father had to be a part of it.
“In my own head, I thought automatically, ‘Dad’s going to be one of my assistant coaches,’” said Jason. “We weren’t exactly sure what his role was going to be, but it seemed natural when we stepped on the field together. What stands out to me right now on our team is our defense. Despite our record, we have a very reliable defense, and I think he has a lot to do with that.”
“When he got the job, he said, ‘Why don’t we coach together?’” said Mark. “It put a big smile on my face, and I said, ‘Let’s do it.’ There’s nothing better than being on the sideline with your son and coaching.”
Through Mark’s 15-plus years of coaching football at Milton Hershey School, Jason grew up around the game, and players and coaching. When you’re around for that long, you gravitate towards it and eventually it becomes part of you.
“It will be 10 years of coaching football with my dad,” said Jason. “My whole interest in the game started when I was 6 years old. My first legitimate memory of football is being on a sideline as a ball boy and a water boy, not only interacting with the players, but also learning the game from my dad. Now, for me to be running a program and him being one of my coaches, it’s like a storybook deal.”
“His strength is his knowledge of the game, his passion, his commitment, his willingness to teach kids” said Mark. “He wants kids to succeed. This is seven days a week during the season and three or four days a week in the offseason. The game of football is different than any other sport. You get 10 games a year, but you work at it 12 months a year.”
Football is the tie that binds the Rices. But one is left with the distinct impression that if it wasn’t football, it would just be something else.
“I’m blessed to have that kind of relationship with my son,” said Mark. “We’re definitely tight. We’ve always been close. Jason and I trust in each other. I’m there for him. He’s there for me.”
“There’s always a comfortable feeling in being home – whether that’s a structure or being surrounded by people you are familiar with,” said Jason. “It gives you confidence in yourself. The way I’ve coached this program is the way I’ve been raised, and I’ve been raised by him.
“Everything I am has come from him. I am forever grateful to be able to share this opportunity with him.”
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