Moon Township, Pa. - Director of Athletics Craig Coleman, M.D., announced today the hiring of Mike Rice as the new head men's basketball coach at Robert Morris University. Rice, who has appeared in the NCAA or NIT Tournament seven times as an assistant coach, is the seventh coach in the 31-year history of the Colonial program.

“We are extremely pleased and excited to welcome Mike and his family to Robert Morris University,” Coleman said. “His pedigree as an assistant coach throughout his career makes him a natural fit for our men's basketball program. Mike is an individual that understands what it takes to make a program successful both on the floor and in the classroom, and we are extremely fortunate to bring him aboard.”

Rice brings to Robert Morris a vast background in collegiate coaching, having served as an assistant coach at alma mater Fordham (1991-94), Marquette (1994-97), Niagara (1997-98), Chicago State (1998-2001), Saint Joseph's (2004-06) and Pittsburgh (2006-07).

“Robert Morris University is delighted to welcome Mike Rice as our new head men's basketball coach,” said Gregory G. Dell'Omo, Ph.D., president of Robert Morris University. “Having worked with Mike briefly at St. Joseph's University, I have already witnessed his strong commitment to both academic and athletic excellence in his players and believe that this commitment and Mike's demonstrated recruiting abilities will bring RMU's program much success in the coming years.”

At Pitt this past season, Rice served as head coach Jamie Dixon's top assistant, helping lead the Panthers to a second-place finish during the Big East regular season and advancing to the Big East Tournament finals as well as the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Pitt finished with an overall record of 29-8 last year, and as the program's top recruiter, Rice was instrumental in attracting a recruiting class for 2007-08 that is ranked 16^th by Scout, Inc., and 12^th by HoopScoop.

“I am extremely excited about the opportunity to become the head coach at a fine institution like Robert Morris University,” Rice said. “I'd like to thank University President Greg Dell'Omo and Athletic Director Craig Coleman, as well as the entire University community, for this opportunity. The foundation for a winning program has been set in previous years, and I look forward to rallying the alumni, faculty, staff, student body and the surrounding community and region to continue to make the men's basketball program at Robert Morris something they can be proud of.”

Prior to his appointment with the Panthers, Rice spent two seasons with head coach Phil Martelli at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pa., from 2004-06. While with the Hawks, Rice helped guide Saint Joseph's to a combined record of 43-26 (.623 winning percentage) and a pair of NIT bids. In 2004-05, the Hawks finished with an overall record of 24-12, advancing to the 2005 NIT final. At St. Joseph's, Rice primarily worked with the post players.

Between 2001-04, Rice served as the director of the Hoop Group Eastern Invitational Basketball Camp. As director, he oversaw all camp activities, including recruiting student-athletes for participation in camps and related events. Rice also oversaw the development of the prestigious Eastern Invitational Team Camp, which expanded from 12 to 64 teams over a three-year period with him as director.

As an assistant coach at Marquette, Rice was instrumental in helping lead the Golden Eagles to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in both 1996 and 1997. In addition, Marquette claimed the 1997 Conference USA Tournament championship and finished as the NIT runner-up in 1995. His lone season at Niagara during the 1997-98 campaign saw the Purple Eagles finish third in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

A 1991 graduate of Fordham, Rice was a three-year starter for the Rams at guard. He appeared in 117 career games, serving as team captain of a 1990-91 squad that posted an overall record of 25-8, including an 11-1 mark in the Patriot League. That season Fordham earned an appearance in the NIT, and Rice's 152 assists rank as the sixth highest single-season total in school history.

Rice earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from Fordham in 1991 and began his coaching assistant career there as an assistant. In 1992, the Rams captured the Patriot League tournament title and subsequent berth in the NCAA Tournament.

A native of Pittsburgh, Rice attended Boardman High School in Boardman, Ohio, where he earned three varsity letters in basketball. A three-year starter, Rice was a two-time All-Northeast Ohio honoree and two-time Steel Valley All-Conference selection. Rice was raised in a basketball family, as his father, Mike Rice Sr., served as head coach at both Duquesne (1979-82) and Youngstown State (1982-87). The elder Rice currently serves as the television color commentator for the Portland Trailblazers.

Rice currently resides in Pittsburgh with his wife, Kerry, and their two children, son Michael (9) and daughter Katie (7). From an athletic family, Rice's mother, Kathy, played collegiate basketball at Duquesne, while his sisters, Susan and Stephanie, each played collegiate tennis at Syracuse.

Rice replaces former head coach Mark Schmidt, who resigned to accept a similar position at St. Bonaventure earlier this month.