UNLV men’s basketball head coach Dave Rice has resigned his position, the director of athletics announced Sunday.
Coach Rice on stepping down as #UNLV head coach: "I wanted to do the right thing for the program." pic.twitter.com/yazzQUa5Qz
— Barry White (@sactogamer) January 11, 2016
“Earlier today I met with Dave Rice and after discussing the direction of our season, we mutually agreed that it was time for a change,” said athletics director Tina Kunzer-Murphy. “Dave has had a great deal of success during his tenure as our head coach. He loves this University, this community and his players. He will always be a cherished member of the Runnin’ Rebel family and we are grateful for all he has done for this program."
#UNLV AD: Some players feel responsible for Coach Rice's dismissal but "...we don't want to give up on the season." pic.twitter.com/1Br9NH1MBf
— Barry White (@sactogamer) January 11, 2016
Kinzer-Murphy noted that being winless in conference play and losing five of the last six games "is simply not good enough for Runnin’ Rebel basketball.”
Rice leaves ranked third on the UNLV chart for all-time head coaching victories with an overall record of 98-54, which includes 10 victories against ranked opponents.
Rice was in the middle of his fifth year as head coach at UNLV. In 2011, he returned to the school where he was part of the 1990 National Championship team as a player. He was also an undergraduate and graduate student along with being the assistant coach from 1991-92 and 1994-2004.
Rice, who had three years after this one on his contract, will receive the remainder of his base salary.
Associate head coach Todd Simon will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Simon is in his third season on the staff and his first as associate head coach.
Interim #UNLV head coach Todd Simon on taking over mid-season: "We'll take things four minutes at a time, then four minutes after that."
— Barry White (@sactogamer) January 11, 2016
