Ex-Rutgers coach Mike Rice given interim position at high school
Former Rutgers coach Mike Rice was given an interim head coaching position with The Patrick School in New Jersey on Sunday, reports NJ.com.
Rice, who was fired by Rutgers in April 2013 after video footage showed him physically and verbally abusing his players with gay slurs at practice, will take over for the program’s coach and school principal Chris Chavannes during the month of December.
“I’m excited and thankful for the opportunity,” Rice told NJ.com. “Whatever I can do to help The Patrick School student-athletes and Chris, I will.”
Rice, who hasn’t coached since his firing from Rutgers, will remain with the high school team as an assistant following Chavannes’ return to his position in January.
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“He’s very energetic, very enthusiastic, very passionate, and he has a ton of knowledge of the game,” Chavannes said. “When he first came in, he was very open with the kids about what transpired at Rutgers and what he’s done and continues to do to recover from that.”
Rice, 46, has reportedly attended an anger management program and an LGBT workshop since his firing.
In six total seasons at the helms of Rutgers and Robert Morris, Rice posted a 117–82 record.
