Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

rebels basketball:

Dave Rice pays respect to Tarkanian, other UNLV legends during introduction

Coach hopes to return team to basketball glory, put ‘Runnin’ into offense

Dave Rice introduced as head coach

Steve Marcus

Dave Rice, left, walks to the podium after greeting players during an introductory news conference Monday, April 11, 2011.

Dave Rice introduced at UNLV

Dave Rice, left, UNLV's new head basketball coach, chats with Regent Jack Schofield before an introductory news conference Monday, April 11, 2011. Former coach Jerry Tarkanian is seated at right. Launch slideshow »

KSNV: Dave Rice Returns

KSNV coverage of Dave Rice's introduction at UNLV, April 11, 11:00 p.m.

UNLV Fans Meet Dave Rice

UNLV's new head basketball coach, David Rice, meets with students during a Runnin' Rebel Fan Reception at UNLV Monday, April 11, 2011. Launch slideshow »
The Rebel Room

Rebel Room — The Dave Rice Era begins

Las Vegas Sun sports reporters Case Keefer and Ray Brewer talk about the excitement surrounding the hiring of Dave Rice as the UNLV basketball coach. Rice, a reserve on the 1990 national championship team, will look to bring the program back to its ways of playing run-and-gun basketball.

Dave Rice was all set to attend law school.

Weeks after the UNLV basketball team lost to Duke in the 1991 Final Four, Rice was preparing to transition to life after athletics when UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian made his former player an offer that changed his life.

Tarkanian asked Rice, a reserve in 1990 on UNLV’s national title team and the following year on the Final Four squad, to join the program as an assistant coach.

The rest is history. Some 20 years later, the 42-year-old is sitting in Tarkanian’s seat.

Rice was formally introduced Monday as the Rebels’ new head coach, taking over a program he holds in high regard with visions of returning it to the top of college basketball. His passion for the university was obvious during his welcome speech, when Rice spoke about his fond memories of the program’s glory years and his deep appreciation for Tarkanian’s legacy.

“I'm humbled because coach Tarkanian is right here and that I have the job that he had, and that makes the difference to all of us who were Runnin’ Rebels,” Rice said.

When Rice entered the Board Room at the Thomas & Mack Center for a press conference to announce his hiring, he noticed Tarkanian sitting in the front row of the packed room.

Rice immediately went to the program’s legendary coach and greeted him with kind words of appreciation. “Without you, I wouldn’t be here,” a sincere Rice told Tarkanian.

Rice emerged as the leading candidate for the vacancy almost instantly two weeks ago when Lon Kruger left after seven seasons for Oklahoma. School officials interviewed three others, including former UNLV great Reggie Theus, before ultimately selecting the man they believed to be the perfect fit.

The length and financial terms of Rice’s contract won’t be available until early next week. It has to be approved by the State Board of Regents.

“I’m just as happy as I possibly could be with the selection we are making. Right time, right place, right person,” UNLV President Neal Smatresk said.

Rice, whose nearly 20-year coaching career includes 11 as a UNLV assistant, spent the last six years at BYU before returning home for his dream job. He is humbled to be at the helm of the program and has plans of adding to its legacy — after all, it is a legacy he knows plenty about.

UNLV went to consecutive Final Fours during Rice’s two years on the team, with the 1991 squad that lost to Duke arguably one of college basketball’s best teams.

“This is a special place. It will always be about the players and it will always be about the tradition of this program,” Rice said. “I don’t know exactly why it is my turn to have this, but I represent all the former Rebels who are equally qualified.”

The gathering was packed with former players, school officials and boosters to welcome Rice back. He was an assistant from 1991-92 and 1994-2004, but wasn’t retained in 2004 when Kruger took over.

He always held the UNLV program in high regard and dreamed of getting the chance to return. Now, he has that opportunity.

“In 30 years as a Division I athletic director, I've never been around anyone more prepared to take the next step as a head coach,” UNLV Athletic Director Jim Livengood said. “Dave has prepared many years for this moment and for today. This is about UNLV and this is about Rebel basketball, and not about Dave. And yet this day is about Dave.”

Rice might not be the only former Rebel on the coaching staff. He has reached out to UNLV legend and current Denver Nuggets assistant Stacey Augmon to join his staff, but knows a decision might be delayed because Augmon wants to stay with the Nuggets during the NBA playoffs.

His first hire was San Diego State assistant Justin Hutson, who has strong recruiting ties in the West and should help upgrade the program’s talent.

Rice met with players Sunday and told them they have what it takes to win immediately. UNLV went 24-9 last year and lost in its first NCAA Tournament game, but returns several key components and should be favored to win the Mountain West Conference.

Rice said his teams will attempt to play like Tarkanian’s — pressure defense and an up-tempo style of offense. The handful of players who attended Rice’s press conference already were sold on his style and the program’s future.

“He has been here. He has been through it all,” junior guard Justin Hawkins said. “He has been through the great times, he has been through the bad times. He knows what the Runnin’ Rebels are about and he will bring it back.”

Hearing Rice talk about the program’s past successes was an inspiration for the players. The best way to honor the past is to add to the success, sophomore post player Carlos Lopez said.

And with Rice at the controls, he feels that is possible.

“It is amazing having one of those great guys from the past teams,” Lopez said. “It is great hearing about the past, but I think it is time to make our own history and our own path.”

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