Washington Huskies Fill Final Coaching Position, Dave Rice Hired

The Washington Huskies Men’s Basketball Team Filled the third and final assistant coaching role today in hiring University of Nevada assistant coach Dave Rice

The University of Washington Huskies Men’s Basketball team has finally filled the third and final assistant coaching in announcing the hiring of fomer University of Nevada assistant coach Dave Rice.

So of the original three projected assistants, only Will Conroy joined head coach Mike Hopkins. Recruiting expert Jim Hart remained at USC, and was upgraded with the hire of Cameron Dollar.  When veteran Tim O’Toole remained at California, the veteran assistant coaching role became an immediate need.  David Rice fills that need and then some.

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But this is more than a warm body hire.  David Rice brings a legitimacy to the coaching staff. He has taken teams to the NCAA tournament. He has been the head coach and assistant coach of successful basketball teams.  Born in Pomona, California, he has roots that cover the west coast. Ultimately, he is a true student and teacher of the game.

Rice Is Nice, Out of the Blue

I had not heard David Rice’s name mentioned prior to this announcement. But it comes as a pleasant surprise.  Rice arrives as an experienced and venerable coach of 21 years in men’s basketball.  He was the head coach of UNLV from 2011-2016.  During his tenure, he coached the team to the NCAA tournaments in his five seasons.  Dave Rice  has also served on the coaching staff of Utah State, BYU, and most recently with Nevada.

In his biography at NevadaWolfPack.com, head coach Eric Mussleman gave the following insights:

"“When Coach Rice and I started the interview process, I was extremely impressed,” Musselman said. “His philosophy along with his Xs and Os knowledge of the game are outstanding. He is a proven recruiter at the national level having signed several highly ranked classes that included individuals who had great collegiate and professional success. Anyone who has sat in the head coaches chair and has been so successful at the collegiate level is going to be a great addition to our staff. He has been to the NCAA Tournament as a player and coach, and won an NCAA Championship as a player. Those are places we want to reach with the Wolf Pack basketball program and he will help us attain those goals.”"

Tourney Well-Traveled

As a matter of fact, he  had success at BYU as well, helping to coach the team to five straight 25-win seasons each ending with invitations to the NCAA Tournamen.  BYU advanced as far as a Sweet 16 berth in 2011.  But most importantly, he is now a member of the University of Washington Huskies Men’s Basketball team.

The hire makes the first stage of the metamorphosis complete.  The Huskies have achieved balance among their coaching staff.

Balanced Coaching Staff

That sets up the coaching staff for the future today.  With Mike Hopkins at the helm, Will Conroy as the coach with most seniority, Cameron Dollar with past ties to UW as well as huge ties to Washington recruiting, and with Dave Rice as the venerable veteran with plenty of NCAA Tournament experience, the list is all checked off.

The diversity of this coaching staff is well balanced. Hopkins has landed three solid assistant coaches, all with excellent resumes. Conroy is the player’s coach. He is the coach who knows each player, and can work with them through the transition of what was to what is and eventually what will be.

Inside the Loud House

Dollar is that infectiously “likable” guy who is savvy, intelligent and articulate. He is a solid recruiter, and he has been a former UW coach linked to some of the best years of the program’s recent history.

Built For Tourney Time

Now Rice joins the coaching staff as the veteran who has been to the dance and back.  Much like Hopkins, he has been an integral part of “getting into” the NCAA Tournament.  Rice brings defensive toughness to the team that needs to strengthen defensively.  His struggles have been in the meticulous patience required to forge championship caliber teams.  That simply will not happen with Hopkins.

It’s clear this coaching staff is not piecemeal. The staff is already complimentary of one another on paper.  This simply “feels” like a cast who have their own specialization, but enough passion for the game to find plenty of middle ground.

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Most of all, for the players who remained, who continue to honor their previous commitment, or who might join the team, this is a staff of expertise who can elevate the game of each player.