Moon Township, Pa. - First-year head coach Mike Rice of the Robert Morris University men's basketball team was named as one of 10 finalists for the 2008 Hugh Durham Mid-Major Coach of the Year award Wednesday by www.collegeinsider.com. 

Rice has led the Colonials to a 26-7 overall record in 2007-08 and their first postseason appearance since 1992, as RMU will play in the upcoming NIT Tournament for the first time in school history. Named the 2008 Northeast Conference Jim Phelan Coach of the Year, Rice has helped Robert Morris establish school records for victories (26), NEC wins (16), consecutive victories (14), points (2,469), three-pointers (264) and assists (572).  

A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Rice led the Colonials to the 2008 NEC regular-season championship, their first since 1992 and fifth overall. The 26 wins is the most by a first-year head coach in the 26-year history of the NEC.   

In 2005 the collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Coach of the Year award was renamed in honor of Hugh Durham, who retired at the conclusion of the 2004-05 season. Durham is one of just 12 coaches to have led two different programs to the NCAA Final Four (Florida State in 1972 and Georgia in 1983). He is also the only coach to lead both teams to their only Final Four appearance.

Previous winners of the award include Gregg Marshall of Winthrop (2007), Pat Flannery of Bucknell (2006) and Bob Thomason of Pacific (2005).  

Robert Morris will learn its opponent in the NIT Tournament Sunday, March 16, when the bracket is announced. First round games will take place at campus sites Tuesday, March 18, and Wednesday, March 19.  

A look at the 10 finalists for the 2008 Hugh Durham Award: 

Ronnie Arrow (South Alabama)
Randy Bennett (Saint Mary's)
Keno Davis (Drake)
Steve Donahue (Cornell)
Danny Kaspar (Stephen F. Austin)
Bob McKillop (Davidson)
Randy Monroe (UMBC)
Mike Rice (Robert Morris)
Tony Shaver (William & Mary)
Brad Stevens (Butler)