Contract extension to keep Rice at UNLV

UNLV’s Dave Rice will sign a two-year contract extension after report surfaced that South Florida was set to hire him for its head coaching vacancy.

“I am excited about the future of our men’s basketball program at UNLV and appreciate the confidence that the administration has in the direction we are headed,” Rice said in a statement released by UNLV. “Our staff has done a good job of assembling next season’s team. We are looking forward to coaching the returning players as well as the newcomers.”

Rice met with UNLV president Donald Snyder and athletic director Tina Kunzer-Murphy after he was contacted by South Florida. The extension takes Rice’s contract through the 2018-19 season.

“We are thrilled that Coach Rice will lead our men’s basketball program into the future,” Kunzer-Murphy said. “We have had a great deal of success in his first three years and are looking forward to even greater success in the future. No one is more dedicated, more passionate and works harder toward the goal of making the Runnin’ Rebels into an elite program than Dave.”

Rice has compiled a 71-32 record in three seasons with the Runnin’ Rebels. UNLV finished 20-13 in 2013-14, and Rice has a steller recruiting class coming in next season.

“It is a process and takes time, but we are 100 percent committed to success,” Kunzer-Murphy said. “Dave cares deeply about our student-athletes, the university, our alums and the Las Vegas community, and we are proud to have him as our head coach.”

South Florida fired Stan Heath as its coach on March 14. It was set to hire Manhattan coach Steve Masiello as Heath’s replacement before a background check found that he falsified his resume.