UNLV Fires Dave Rice

[Pittbaseball11]

There's the first domino of the college basketball season (maybe Wisconsin, but I really believe they're going to give their interim coach every chance to seize the job).

I would imagine, given the nature of that program and Dave Rice's reputation, that we don't need to worry about any "Dixon to UNLV" whispers.

 

[LeftCoastPanther]

Should have fired Rice after last season and hired Howland.

Rice never showed anything close to coaching competence.

 

[BFo8]

Should have fired Rice after last season and hired Howland.

Rice never showed anything close to coaching competence.

So true, Howland hung around town endlessly last year almost begging to be hired, but to no avail.

People around the program are expecting that Steve Lavin will be targeted, as he has shown interest in the past. It's a really good job recruiting wise, 2 of the top 10 high school/prep programs in the country are literally down the street, although Dave Rice's brother coaches one of them.

It's also an NBA type city being the headquarters of USA basketball, the Lebron James skills academy, high profile AAU tournaments, and numerous NBA scouts and players living in Las Vegas. It's a total basketball town and getting players will never be an issue.

That being said they have a reputation for being cheap on coaching salaries, and the arena is getting long in the tooth. When Lon Kruger was hired in 2004 it was relatively common knowledge that Jay Wright had his people contact the school about the job and was instantly turned off by the salary being bandied about. In retrospect they never should have let Kruger go, he loved it in Vegas, just weren't willing to pay the price to keep him.

 

[KiwiJeff]

So true, Howland hung around town endlessly last year almost begging to be hired, but to no avail.

People around the program are expecting that Steve Lavin will be targeted, as he has shown interest in the past. It's a really good job recruiting wise, 2 of the top 10 high school/prep programs in the country are literally down the street, although Dave Rice's brother coaches one of them.

It's also an NBA type city being the headquarters of USA basketball, the Lebron James skills academy, high profile AAU tournaments, and numerous NBA scouts and players living in Las Vegas. It's a total basketball town and getting players will never be an issue.

That being said they have a reputation for being cheap on coaching salaries, and the arena is getting long in the tooth. When Lon Kruger was hired in 2004 it was relatively common knowledge that Jay Wright had his people contact the school about the job and was instantly turned off by the salary being bandied about. In retrospect they never should have let Kruger go, he loved it in Vegas, just weren't willing to pay the price to keep him.

This is what happens when major donors are allowed to run the show. They fire Rice because he can recruit but not coach, and then are interested in Lavin? Ummm,mm,........yeah.

 

[BFo8]

Doug Gottlieb was on local radio today openly campaigning for the UNLV job, going so far as saying he already had a staff lined up if he was given the job.

Not sure what his CBS gig pays, but the UNLV job would probably be a pay cut.

 

[KGSB Panther]

Not sure what his CBS gig pays, but the UNLV job would probably be a pay cut.

That's fine; he has a credit card he can use to cover up the difference.

 

[Pittnerski]

BOOM!! ^