UNLV retains Rice as coach
In a Monday meeting, with his future as UNLV basketball coach in question, Dave Rice got the answer he needed. He will return for a fifth season.
If the Rebels miss the NCAA Tournament again next year, it might be a different story.
UNLV athletic director Tina Kunzer-Murphy released a statement saying she had a “productive and candid discussion” with Rice, who explained his vision for the program’s future.
“I also had a chance to share with him our expectations as we go from this season into next,” Kunzer-Murphy’s statement continued. “Included in those expectations are to reaffirm our status as a leader in the Mountain West and our position as a national program. I agree with Coach Rice’s plan and vision.”
Kunzer-Murphy declined further comment, and Rice also declined to comment.
Rice might not be required to meet any specific goals, but it’s reasonable to assume the Rebels must reach the NCAA Tournament next season for his job to be secure.
Kunzer-Murphy was under pressure from some boosters and fans to make a change, but she resisted. She also heard from several supporters of Rice.
There was similar drama last spring. After fielding a job offer from South Florida, Rice received a two-year contract extension through the 2018-19 season. Kunzer-Murphy, who recommended the extension, stuck with her decision and opted not to reverse course after one disappointing season.
UNLV finished with an 18-15 record — its most losses since the 1995-96 season — a seventh-place finish in the Mountain West and an exit in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.
The Rebels missed the postseason for the second consecutive March, after reaching the NCAA Tournament in Rice’s first two years.
With five freshmen potentially returning and another impressive recruiting class lined up, Rice has guaranteed better results next season.
“I think it has the makings of a very special team,” Rice said Friday. “We need to have a breakout year, and we will. I will hold myself to that high standard.”
UNLV has experienced declining win totals in his four seasons - from 26 to 25 to 20 to 18 - without winning a conference title or an NCAA Tournament game. Rice has a record of 89-47.
Rice, who played on the Rebels’ 1990 NCAA championship team, was the associate head coach at Brigham Young when he was hired in April 2011 by former athletic director Jim Livengood.
His promise of a “breakout year” has merit. If everything falls into place, UNLV could have the most talented roster in the conference.
Assuming all five true freshmen return, Rice is in position to put his best team yet on the floor. Rashad Vaughn, Patrick McCaw, Jordan Cornish, Dwayne Morgan and Goodluck Okonoboh were major contributors in their first year in the program.
Vaughn, recovering from a second knee injury, is considering a jump to the NBA. Sophomore forward Chris Wood is expected to declare for the draft. But even if Vaughn and Wood leave, the Rebels will be built to compete for a league title.
Junior forward Ben Carter, an Oregon transfer and Bishop Gorman High School product, should be an impact player. Jerome Seagears, a Rutgers transfer, is an athletic senior point guard. Carter and Seagears redshirted this season.
Jalen Poyser, a top prospect from Canada, is a 6-foot-4-inch point guard who signed in the fall along with Derrick Jones, a 6-6 forward. Jones, an explosive athlete from Pennsylvania, is ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 43 player in the nation.
The headliner of the class could be Stephen Zimmerman, a 7-foot senior from Bishop Gorman who is ranked No. 11 by Rivals. Zimmerman’s college announcement could be coming soon.
Rice and his staff, who also gained a commitment from Justin Jackson, a 6-7 forward from Findlay Prep, are continuing to recruit other elite prospects.
The talent appears to be in place for the Rebels to make their best run in what might be Rice’s make-or-break fifth year.
Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter:
