UNLV Men's Basketball: Rebels Hire Dave Rice as New Head Coach

After a week of rumors and speculation, the UNLV Runnin' Rebels finally have their coach, and it's Dave Rice according to CBS Sports.

The opening ultimately came down to the choice of former UNLV players, Dave Rice and Reggie Theus. Rice had been the name that everyone threw into the favorite category almost immediately. It is expected to be made official tomorrow at a press conference at UNLV.

During the week long search, a heavy list of names came out of the woodwork expressing interest in the job. From Bob Knight to Larry Brown and even UNLV's favorite son Larry Johnson.

Rice is a great fit for UNLV. He likes to run an up-tempo style of offense which UNLV faithful have been looking for the Rebels to return to ever since Tark left the program.

Rice's brother, Grant Rice, is the head coach at Bishop Gorman High, a Las Vegas high school that UNLV is looking at to grab a few top recruits for the 2012 season, including top 10 prospect Shabazz Muhammad.

(Update: Rice is already on the ball as far as compiling his coaching staff. According to multiple media outlets Sand Diego State's assistant Justin Hutson, who was responsible for recruiting the likes of Kawhi Leonard, Chase Tapley, D.J. Gay and Billy White among others is on-board and is set to become UNLV's head assistant coach. 

Rice has also contacted former UNLV great, and current NBA assistant coach Stacey Augmon. Augmon could also create buzz that will help recruits go to UNLV knowing his college and NBA past could provide them with valuable experience for their basketball futures.) 

In all UNLV made the right decision. Rice is the perfect person to pick up where Kruger left off. Getting this UNLV program back in the NCAA tournament and now hopefully the ability to make deeper runs during March Madness year-after-year.

The future for the Rebels looks as bright as ever, now UNLV has only one problem their faced with, what to call the student section once known as "Krugers Corner."