Mike Rice is a former American college basketball coach whose career included successful rebuilding work at Robert Morris University and a three-season tenure at Rutgers University. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on February 13, 1969, Rice grew up in a basketball family and eventually turned his experience as a college player into a long coaching career. His path included assistant coaching positions at several universities before he became a head coach.
Rice became particularly known during his time at Robert Morris, where he guided the Colonials to three consecutive postseason appearances and two NCAA Tournament berths. His success there led Rutgers to hire him in 2010. However, his Rutgers career ended in April 2013 after video of his treatment of players during practices became public. Rutgers terminated his contract following a review of the newly revealed information and previously discovered issues.
Quick Bio Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Michael Thomas Rice Jr. |
| Known as | Mike Rice |
| Date of birth | February 13, 1969 |
| Birthplace | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Former college basketball coach |
| Primary field | Men’s college basketball |
| High school | Boardman High School |
| College | Fordham University |
| College degree | B.A. in Communications |
| Playing position | Guard |
| College playing years | 1988–1991 |
| First college coaching role | Fordham University assistant |
| Major head-coaching stops | Robert Morris and Rutgers |
| Wife | Kerry Rice |
| Children | Michael and Katie |
Early Life and Family Background
Mike Rice was born in Pittsburgh and attended Boardman High School in Ohio, where basketball became an important part of his early life. Robert Morris University described him as a three-year varsity letter winner and three-year starter who earned All-Northeast Ohio and Steel Valley All-Conference recognition during his high school career.
His family background also helped shape his connection to basketball. His father, Mike Rice Sr., was a college basketball coach who led Duquesne and Youngstown State before becoming a television color commentator for the Portland Trail Blazers. His mother, Kathy, played collegiate basketball at Duquesne, while his sisters Susan and Stephanie were collegiate tennis players at Syracuse.
Growing up around competitive college athletics gave Rice an early understanding of coaching, recruiting, player development, and the demands placed on athletes. That environment became an important foundation for the professional direction he eventually chose.
College Basketball Career at Fordham
Rice continued his playing career at Fordham University, where he played guard from 1988 through 1991. He became a three-year starter and served as team captain during his senior season. Fordham reached the National Invitation Tournament during his college career, giving him postseason experience before he moved into coaching.
Rice graduated from Fordham in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in communications. Instead of pursuing a professional playing career, he immediately began building a future on the coaching side of basketball. His first coaching position came at his alma mater, where he worked as an assistant from 1991 to 1994.
Building a Coaching Career
After Fordham, Rice developed a broad résumé through assistant coaching positions at Marquette, Niagara, and Chicago State. He later joined Saint Joseph’s and the University of Pittsburgh. This period was significant because it allowed him to learn different approaches to recruiting, game preparation, player development, and program management.
At Saint Joseph’s from 2004 to 2006, Rice worked under head coach Phil Martelli and helped the Hawks compile a 43–26 record over two seasons while reaching the NIT in both years. At Pittsburgh, he worked under Jamie Dixon during the 2006–07 season. Pittsburgh finished 29–8 that year, reached the Big East Tournament final, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.
Rice also spent three years with the Hoop Group, serving as director of the Eastern Invitational Basketball Camp from 2001 to 2004. The position expanded his experience beyond the college sideline and involved organizing camp activities and recruiting student-athletes for participation.
Success at Robert Morris University
The next major stage of Mike Rice’s career began in April 2007, when Robert Morris University hired him as its head men’s basketball coach. He inherited a program with an established foundation and quickly produced strong results.
In his first season, Rice led Robert Morris to a 26–8 record, the Northeast Conference regular-season championship, and an NIT berth. He was named the 2008 NEC Jim Phelan Coach of the Year. The Colonials continued their progress over the next two seasons, earning NCAA Tournament appearances in 2009 and 2010.
Across three seasons at Robert Morris, Rice posted a 73–31 record, including a 46–8 mark in conference play. The university later highlighted that his tenure produced three consecutive postseason appearances, two NCAA Tournament berths, and both NEC regular-season and tournament championships during the program’s successful stretch.
Move to Rutgers
Rice’s success at Robert Morris brought him to a much larger college basketball stage. On May 6, 2010, Rutgers University announced him as its 17th head men’s basketball coach. At the time of his appointment, Rutgers emphasized his 73–31 record at Robert Morris and the two NCAA Tournament appearances he had achieved there.
Rice arrived at Rutgers with experience in the Northeast basketball recruiting landscape and a reputation built through years of college coaching. He assembled a staff that included David Cox, Van Macon, Jimmy Martelli, Jim Carr, and others as the program prepared for the 2010–11 season.
His Rutgers tenure, however, did not reproduce the results of his Robert Morris years. ESPN reported that Rice finished his three seasons at Rutgers with a 44–51 overall record and a 16–38 conference record. His final Rutgers team finished 15–16 overall and 5–13 in the Big East during the 2012–13 season.
The 2012–2013 Rutgers Controversy
A major turning point in Mike Rice’s public career came during the 2012–13 season. In December 2012, Rutgers suspended him for three games without pay and fined him $50,000 because of inappropriate behavior and language. Rutgers stated that the punishment involved an athletic department policy violation and was not an NCAA violation.
The situation changed dramatically several months later when video footage from Rutgers practices became public. ESPN reported that the footage showed Rice shoving and grabbing players, throwing basketballs at them, and using anti-gay slurs. The public release of the footage led to intense scrutiny of both Rice and Rutgers’ handling of the earlier disciplinary matter.
On April 3, 2013, Rutgers announced that it had terminated Rice’s contract. The university said the decision was based on recently revealed information and a review of previously discovered issues. The controversy also produced broader consequences within Rutgers athletics, including the later resignation of athletic director Tim Pernetti.
Family and Personal Life
Rice’s family has remained an important part of his biography. When Robert Morris hired him in 2007, the university identified his wife as Kerry and his children as Michael and Katie. Rutgers likewise introduced Rice to the university community alongside Kerry, Michael, and Katie when announcing his hiring in 2010.
His personal background also illustrates how deeply basketball was embedded in the Rice family. His father had a long coaching and broadcasting career, his mother played college basketball, and his sisters participated in collegiate athletics. For Mike Rice, basketball therefore represented both a family tradition and a professional career.
What Happened After Rutgers?
After leaving Rutgers in 2013, Rice’s coaching career continued outside the major Division I spotlight. Available biographical records list him as the head coach of The Patrick School from 2015 to 2017. His overall college head-coaching record across Robert Morris and Rutgers was 117–82.
The contrast between the different stages of his career is notable. At Robert Morris, Rice established himself as a successful head coach through conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. At Rutgers, his tenure ended after three seasons amid a highly publicized controversy involving his treatment of players. Those documented events form the central context for understanding his professional journey.
Conclusion
Mike Rice’s biography encompasses several distinct chapters: a Pittsburgh upbringing in a basketball family, a playing career at Fordham, years of assistant coaching, a successful three-season run at Robert Morris, and a short but highly scrutinized tenure at Rutgers. His Robert Morris record of 73–31 remains one of the strongest statistical stretches of his coaching career, while his Rutgers years became associated with the disciplinary controversy that ultimately ended his employment there.
Today, discussions of Mike Rice generally require both parts of that history to be included. His early coaching achievements explain why Rutgers hired him in 2010, while the documented events of 2012 and 2013 explain why his time there ended abruptly. Taken together, his career provides a detailed example of how a college basketball coach can experience significant professional success while also facing serious consequences when conduct and institutional standards become central issues.
FAQs About Mike Rice
Who is Mike Rice?
Mike Rice is a former American college basketball coach best known for coaching Robert Morris University and Rutgers University. He was born in Pittsburgh in 1969 and played college basketball at Fordham before beginning his coaching career there.
Where did Mike Rice play college basketball?
Mike Rice played guard at Fordham University from 1988 to 1991. He was a three-year starter and team captain as a senior before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in communications.
What did Mike Rice accomplish at Robert Morris?
Rice led Robert Morris from 2007 to 2010 and compiled a 73–31 record. His teams made three consecutive postseason appearances, including two NCAA Tournament berths, and won NEC regular-season and tournament championships during his tenure.
Why was Mike Rice fired by Rutgers?
Rutgers terminated Rice’s contract on April 3, 2013, after video of his conduct during practices became public. The university cited newly revealed information and previously discovered issues.
Who is Mike Rice’s family?
Mike Rice is the son of former college basketball coach and Portland Trail Blazers broadcaster Mike Rice Sr. His mother, Kathy, played basketball at Duquesne. Mike Rice Jr. is married to Kerry Rice, and Rutgers and Robert Morris records identify his children as Michael and Katie.
