Matukewicz adds Melvin Rice to staff as cornerbacks coach

Melvin Rice, who was officially announced as the new cornerbacks coach for the Southeast Missouri State football team on Tuesday, is excited about the opportunity to work alongside coach Tom Matukewicz after knowing him when he played and assisted at Northern Illinois.

Matukewicz joined NIU as an assistant to coach Jerry Kill when Rice was a senior in 2008. Rice returned in 2010 as a graduate assistant on Kill's staff and helped coach defensive backs.

"Just knowing him as a player, and all the players who I played with, and all the players that I know that played under coach Tuke always thought very highly of coach Tuke," Rice said. "They basically love him, and it's just an honor and a privilege to be on staff with him. He's living out his dream, and I'm just helping him fulfill his dream. It's just an honor to be on his staff."

Rice reached out to Matukewicz to express his interest in the job when he heard there was a possibility the position would be available. He replaces Travis Fisher, who accepted a similar position at his alma mater, the University of Central Florida.

Rice had served on Kill's staff at Minnesota as defensive quality control assistant since 2011.

"We are fortunate to hire Melvin," Matukewicz said in a press release. "He was a great player for us at Northern Illinois and is an even better person. He comes to Southeast from Minnesota where the Golden Gophers had a record-breaking year. Melvin has learned from [Minnesota defensive backs coach] Jay Sawvel, one of the best coaches in the country and is a rising star in the profession."

Rice is impressed with what Matukewicz and his staff has achieved with the Redhawks program in the first year under their leadership.

"I know that they have some great players on the team," Rice said. "I met a few guys, I got a chance to meet all of my corners who are up here, and it's just a great family that he's built at such a quick, quick pace since he got the job. It's a family atmosphere, and that's something that I like already about the team."

All-conference cornerback Tim Hamm-Bey and cornerback Reggie Jennings have exhausted their eligibility, but sophomore cornerback JJ Flye, who played in eight games and recorded 14 tackles as a freshman, and junior cornerback Ryan Moore return.

"I'm looking forward to just winning a conference championship. That's the key to why we come to work," Rice said. "I'm looking to develop some young men and mentor them not only on the field, but off the field, and teach them lifelong lessons about life that will help them later on down the road."