Rice’s new assistant Schroyer adds head coaching savvy to Rebels staff

As head basketball coach at Portland State and Wyoming, Heath Schroyer called the shots and was the one to take the blame and credit. He has been under fire, and he was fired.

Moving over a couple of seats on the UNLV bench, Schroyer offers the type of wisdom new Rebels coach Dave Rice was seeking in an assistant.

"Being a head coach at two Division I schools, those experiences I think are very valuable," said Schroyer, officially announced Thursday as Rice's second hire. "I've learned a lot over the years. I've made mistakes, I've done things I'm proud of and everything in between."

If everything works as Rice plans, Schroyer will sit between assistants Justin Hutson and Stacey Augmon. Hutson was hired from San Diego State shortly after Rice was introduced April 11.

Augmon, one of UNLV's greatest players and a teammate with Rice on the 1990 NCAA title team, is expected to decide soon on an offer to be the other full-time assistant. Rice said an answer should be coming in the "next few days."

Augmon is finishing his fourth year as a Denver Nuggets assistant for player development. The Nuggets were eliminated from the NBA playoffs Wednesday night.

"I think he's very interested. He certainly has a very difficult decision," Rice said. "We really want Stacey to join us, and that's why we've waited for him."

Schroyer acted quickly after hearing Rice landed the Rebels' top job.

"I just shot him a text and congratulated him. He reached out to me later," Schroyer said. "I've known Dave a long time and sat in a lot of gyms on a lot of bleachers with him."

Rice said he admired Schroyer's work as an assistant coach at BYU, Fresno State and Wyoming. Schroyer, 39, was head coach at Portland State (2002-05) and was fired Feb. 7 in the midst of his fourth year at Wyoming. He coached the Cowboys to a 49-68 record, 16-41 in the Mountain West Conference.

"It was important for me to get someone with Division I head coaching experience," Rice said. "I was just so impressed with the job Heath did as an assistant coach.

"I'm looking to put together a team and add guys who have strengths that might be different from what I perceive my strengths to be. The whole process has been really tough because there are so many good candidates."

Rice said Schroyer, a native of Maryland, has "terrific recruiting contacts around the nation."

Schroyer signed a one-year contract at UNLV for $150,000. He had a contract at Wyoming through the 2013-14 season and was set to receive $160,000 per year for the remaining three years. He was also a candidate to fill Rice's former spot as a BYU assistant.

Hutson, 39, who has a one-year contract worth approximately $175,000, and Schroyer are regarded as tireless workers who have extensive knowledge of the Mountain West.

"The first goal is always to win the league, and the three of us know the league very well. I don't think there's any question that's an advantage for us," Schroyer said.

"I'm really excited. I'm honored to be a Rebel, especially with what I believe can take place over the next few years. I think we can have a really good time and do some special things."

NOTES -- Sophomore guard Anthony Marshall will undergo surgery today to remove a cyst from his left wrist. “It should be routine. I’m not too worried about it,” said Marshall, who expects to be out of action for about a month. … J.J. O’Brien, a 6-foot-7-inch swingman who is transferring from Utah after his freshman year, is visiting UNLV this weekend.