Ags name new assistant coach
Utah State Head Coach Stew Morrill officially announced the hiring of former UNLV basketball assistant Dave Rice Friday.
“Dave is an exciting addition to our coaching staff,” Morrill said in a press release. “His variety of duties at UNLV has prepared him to wear many hats and I am confident he will do an outstanding job in all areas of our program.”
Rice had spent the last 11 seasons as a UNLV assistant, the second-longest tenure ever for an assistant in the Rebel’s program. Over the last eight seasons, UNLV has made seven postseason appearances and has averaged 20 wins a year.
“I’m really excited to join Coach Morrill and his staff,” Rice said. “I have followed the Utah State program very closely and have been really impressed with the quality of the program they have built both on the court and in the classroom. As a player and a coach, I have had the opportunity to come to Logan and I have been aware of the great support of the fans and their commitment to the Aggies.”
Graduating in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in political science, Rice was a member of the Rebel’s 1990 National Championship team and was a two-time UNLV Scholar-Athlete of the Year as well as a Rhodes Scholar candidate.
Rice fills the position former USU assistant Randy Rahe vacated when he took an assistant job at the University of Utah.
Morrill also announced Friday he would elevate current assistants Don Verlin and Tim Duryea each one position.
“Coach Verlin has been with me for 11 years as an assistant and has proven many times over his value to our program,” Morrill said. “It’s always a pleasure to elevate deserving people you know are capable of handling new challenges.
“Likewise, Tim has shown during his time at Utah State that we are fortunate to have him. Assistant coaches provide the backbone for any Division I program and we can feel very good about our situation in that regard.”
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