LIVONIA, Mich. – Madonna University Director of Athletics Noel Emenhiser has announced the promotion of Olivia Rice to head coach of the Crusaders men's and women's cross country programs.

Rice assumes the leadership role while still serving as an Assistant Coach with Madonna's Men's and Women's track and field program, where she will continue to work closely with the middle-distance athletes and played an integral role in the continued development of the Crusaders.

"We are excited to elevate Olivia into this position," said Emenhiser. "She has been a valuable member of our coaching staff and has demonstrated a tremendous commitment to the success of our student-athletes. Olivia's coaching experience, passion for developing runners, and understanding of our program's culture make her an outstanding choice to lead our men's and women's cross country teams."

A Rochester, Michigan native, Rice has steadily built an impressive coaching résumé while establishing herself as a respected mentor and leader. She currently serves as an assistant track and field coach at Madonna, working with the middle-distance program. Rice is a graduate of Oakland University, where she earned a degree in Exercise Science and competed for five years in the 800- and 1,500-meter events.

In addition to her coaching responsibilities, Rice recently completed a master's degree in Nutrition and Health while serving for two years as the graduate assistant coach for Madonna's Men's middle-distance program. Her educational background and competitive experience provide a strong foundation for helping student-athletes maximize their performance both on the course and in the classroom.

Prior to joining the Madonna coaching staff, Rice spent four years coaching at Lutheran Northwest High School, where she helped lead her programs to significant success. During her tenure, Lutheran Northwest captured three MIAC Cross Country Championships, three women's regional track championships, one MIAC track and field conference championship, and the 2022 MHSAA state title in the girls' 4x800-meter relay.

Rice's familiarity with the Crusaders program, combined with her experience as both a collegiate athlete and coach, positions her to guide Madonna's cross country teams into their next chapter of success.

Rice will immediately oversee all aspects of the men's and women's cross country programs, including recruiting, training, scheduling, program operations, and student-athlete development.