Beyond the Game: Faith, Family, Football
Coach Marcus Trice
Cornerbacks Coach, University of Houston
Written By: Malik Boynton
Print Interview: Dec 8th, 2025
1. How would you describe your coaching philosophy, especially when it comes to developing defensive backs?
A: Capture the heart of the individual. Build up the character, mindset & behaviors first. As a byproduct of that, the player is ensured growth.
2. What separates the way you coach DBs from others at the collegiate level?
A: Adaptability. I’m fully aware that I don’t have all the answers and that all my kids won’t interpret information the same. I try to adapt my teaching style to ensure content mastery for all level & types of learners. I believe elite coaches are elite teachers. I will adjust as much as I need to in order to maximize growth.
3. What non-negotiables do you demand from your room every single day?
A: There’s one standard: elite effort. We demand their very best, regardless of external circumstance. If you’re a 2.8 student from a cognitive ability standpoint point, I want a 2.8 gpa every semester. Potential means nothing without consistent production.
4. What traits do you look for in a defensive back that tell you they can thrive in your system?
A: Instincts, adept learners & elite competitors, hard to identity, easy to build on those foundational traits.
5. How do you take a high school or under-recruited athlete and turn them into a college-ready DB?
A: Build an individualized plan of development, highlight areas of growth, make them area of areas of improvement, give them ownership of their growth. Once they accept that their ability to produce is their responsibility they begin to buy into the plan of action.
6. What’s a success story from your coaching career that best represents your impact?
A: I’m not sure if there’s one story. I’m proud to have coached almost twin dozen young men who now have their college degrees and another dozen who have been baptized.
Every time I have a player, current or past who hits another “life”milestone. I share their excitement with them
7. How do you develop confidence and swagger in your defensive backs without sacrificing discipline?
A: Again, I think ownership is key. The kids will play with confidence if you breathe life into them with your words & actions. The players control the discipline part. We uphold the standard through concise & timely feedback.
8. When recruits and parents meet you for the first time, what do you want them to feel and understand about you?
A: Authenticity, when they first meet me, I’m not concerned with being who I think they want me to be, I’m more concerned with being who I truly am. I think that allows them to get a clear picture so there are no surprises once they get on campus
9. How do you balance high expectations with trust and relationship-building in recruiting?
A: Trust is earned in droplets and lost in buckets.I’m going to give my all into recruiting. The consistent effort builds trust.
10. What kind of player fits best in Coach Marcus Trice’s DB room?
A: The best players I’ve ever coached had instincts, physicality & were elite competitors in everything they did. I much rather tell my dogs whoa than go!