Earlier this year, many in the Las Vegas Valley were worried about the future of the Runnin’ Rebels when previous coach Lon Kruger left for Oklahoma. Speculation arose on possible candidates for the coaching position. University of Nevada, Las Vegas basketball has become a staple many Vegas fans rely on, as many other teams are not nearly as successful or have as rich of a history.
Around April of this year, former rebel Dave Rice was hired as head coach and basketball fans breathed a little easier as Rice left fellow Mountain West rival BYU . Following this, Rice soon hired his former teammate Stacey Augmon as his 3rd assistant coach. Both Rice and Augmon have links to UNLV’s glory days as each played under legend Jerry Tarkanian, with the championship team in 1990 and the Final Four team in 1991. After that, Rice worked for Tarkanian as an assistant for 11 seasons before departing to join the BYU basketball program. Rice's triumphant return to UNLV reestablishes ties to the Rebs' championship year.
