One of college soccer's winningest coaches is leaving Rice after the season

Brian Lee, one of the most successful coaches in collegiate soccer history and current coach of the Rice Owls women's soccer team , will step down at season's end.

The Owls, who finished 4th in the conference with a 4-4-2 record, will continue their season in the American Conference Championship against defending conference champions UTSA on Sunday. According to Rice interim athletic director Eric George and Lee, the two agreed that the head coach will assist with the transition through the end of the year, including supporting current student-athletes and recruits.

"I am proud of what our players and staff accomplished together at Rice, on the field, in the classroom and in the Houston community," said Lee in a statement to Chron. "After thoughtful conversations with Eric, we agreed this is the right time for both the program and for me to take the next step. I am grateful to Rice for the opportunity, and I am excited to continue coaching and to build the next great program."

In a statement, the university said it will begin a national search for the program's next head coach immediately.

Rice finished its 2026 regular season with a 6-7-5 record, as Lee compiled a 76-52-23 record in seven seasons as the Owls' head coach after being hired in 2019 . Lee was twice named his conference's coach of the year (2020, 2024), and six of his players earned conference player of the year honors. In 2021 , Mijke Roelfsema became the first player in school history to earn first-team All-American honors.

"We are grateful for Brian's dedication to Rice and our soccer program throughout his tenure," said George in a statement to Chron. "He has recruited and mentored incredible student-athletes who have represented Rice with integrity and excellence in the classroom, community, and on the field. His teams have helped set a new standard of excellence for Rice soccer, and we wish Brian every success in the next chapter of his career."

The Cheltenham, England native's career record of 363-232-78 (.610 win percentage) across 33 seasons at Furman, LSU and Rice places him among the winningest coaches in Division I women's soccer history. Lee, 55, will likely have plenty of suitors for his coaching services either collegiately or at the professional level.