King Rice Receives New 5-Year Deal To Remain As Monmouth Basketball Coach

King Rice(Photo: RUSS DESANTIS)

The 2015-2016 season for the Monmouth Hawks has been one full of shining moments. The Hawks have wins over major conference schools like UCLA and USC (Pac-12), Georgetown (Big East), Notre Dame (ACC) and in-state rival Rutgers (Big Ten). Monmouth is on the upswing and head coach King Rice is the leader of the renaissance. Due to his hard work, Rice was rewarded on Friday with a new contract.

Monmouth announced that the school and Rice agreed to a new five-year contract that will keep Rice in West Long Branch through the 2020-2021 season. Rice led the MAAC regular season champion Hawks to a 16-3 record and a 24-6 mark overall. Monmouth’s 24 wins broke the record for the most wins in school history and the season is far from done. The MAAC Conference Tournament is taking place next week in Albany where Monmouth will look to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006.

“We are extremely proud and appreciative of the work King has done with our basketball program both on and off the court over the last five years,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Marilyn McNeil. “I am confident that King and his staff have Monmouth basketball positioned for long-term success, academically and athletically.  This new contract is evidence of our confidence in and commitment to King and Monmouth basketball.”

The contract comes at a time when Rice is one of the hottest coaches in the country. Bigger schools throughout the nation could have made a run at the former North Carolina point guard during the off-season based on the successful season Monmouth has had. They are considered as a potential bubble team for March Madness if they are unable to win the MAAC Tournament. Monmouth may have one of the stronger resumes in the country over other bubble teams such as Cincinnati or Florida State. All this is attributed to Rice and the work he has put in since becoming Monmouth head coach in 2011.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to coach at Monmouth University,” said Head Coach King Rice. “I’m excited about the extension and the support that Dr. McNeil and President Brown have given me and my family. I appreciate all the hard work our players and coaching staff have put in to make this program successful this season and moving forward.”

With only one senior on the roster this season, Rice will be returning all of his important players next season to make another run at the MAAC. With this new contract, Rice can continue to build the program into a model mid-major conference program. For Hawk fans, you can rest easy that your head basketball coach will hopefully be with the program for years to come and the excitement at the MAC will continue for the foreseeable future.