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2 Mike Rice Head Coach Fordham NEC Jim Phelan Coach of the Year 2009 NEC Jim Phelan Coach of the Year 2008 NABC District 3 Coach of the Year 2009 NABC District 18 Coach of the Year SEASON Simply put, Mike Rice has put the men s basketball program at Robert Morris University back on the map. Just 22 months after being named the seventh head coach in the 33-year history of the program, Rice led the Colonials to their sixth Northeast Conference Tournament championship with a thrilling win over Mount St. Mary s March 11, 2009, at the Charles L. Sewall Center. The win helped earn its sixth automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and its first since In two years as a head coach, Rice has been at the helm of a program that has claimed back-to-back NEC regular-season championships, its first appearance in the National Invitation Tournament in 2008 and the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Along the way, a total of 16 school records have either been tied or broken under Rice s watch, including victories (26 in ), NEC wins (16 in ) and consecutive victories (14 in ). Robert Morris also posted 15 straight wins in NEC road games over the course of the last two seasons. The two-time reigning NEC Jim Phelan Coach of the Year, Rice enters his third season at Robert Morris in with an overall record of (.725), including a mark 31-5 (.861) against league foes. He signed a three-year contract extension with Robert Morris in April, meaning he will lead the Colonials through the season. I m definitely afraid of losing a basketball game, afraid of failing, Rice said. That scares me more than pressure. I don t feel pressure that way. Losing is the worst feeling in the world, and that s what motivates me. What motivates me is getting the most out of our guys on a daily basis to help them improve. We have expectations now within this program, and I like the expectations WHAT THEY RE SAYING ABOUT MIKE RICE Mike Rice will be a great head coach at Robert Morris. Not only is he a good coach, but he is a good recruiter and a very good person. Most importantly, Mike is where he wants to be, and that s home in Pittsburgh. We re very proud of Mike, as well as all of our coaches, that go on to become head coaches. Jamie Dixon, Head Basketball Coach, University of Pittsburgh because that means you re successful. Expectations are interesting, because our guys may think that by just putting on a Robert Morris uniform they re going to be successful. My job is to get them to continue to work hard in order for them to be successful. Stressing a team concept is the most important aspect Rice brings to the table as head coach at Robert Morris. A skilled tactician and defensive specialist, nothing of what Rice teaches from day to day is important to him without the team concept first being instilled. It s so important for everyone to buy into what we re teaching from the first day we arrive back on campus in the fall, Rice said. That includes everybody. From myself to the assistant coaches to the managers down to the 14th and 15th players on the roster. We re all in it together, as a team. It s everyone doing their part in helping us win games. Rice was named the seventh head coach in the 33-year Division I history of the program at a press conference in the Sewall Center on s Moon Township Campus April 26, A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Rice has appeared in the NCAA or NIT Tournament seven times as an assistant coach and twice as the head coach at Robert Morris. We are extremely pleased and excited to welcome Mike and his family to Robert Morris University, said Director of Athletics Craig Coleman, M.D., at the time of his hiring. His pedigree as an assistant coach throughout his career made him a natural fit for our men s basketball program. Mike is an individual that understands what it takes to make a program successful both on the floor and in the classroom. Rice brought to Robert Morris a vast background in collegiate coaching, having served as an assistant coach at alma mater 36 Robert Morris University

3 SEASON WHAT THEY RE SAYING ABOUT MIKE RICE Mike Rice has an unmatched passion for teaching the game of basketball. With this hire, Robert Morris has gotten a tremendous teacher, an outstanding recruiter and a great spokesperson for the University and the program. I am delighted for Mike and his family to have this opportunity at Robert Morris. Phil Martelli, Head Basketball Coach, Saint Joseph s University Fordham ( ), Marquette ( ), Niagara ( ), Chicago State ( ), Saint Joseph s ( ) and Pittsburgh ( ). At Pitt, Rice served as head coach Jamie Dixon s top assistant, helping lead the Panthers to a second-place finish during the Big East regular season and advancing to the Big East Tournament finals as well as the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Pitt finished with an overall record of 29-8 in , and as the program s top recruiter, Rice was instrumental in attracting a recruiting class for that was ranked 16th by Scout, Inc., and 12th by HoopScoop. Prior to his appointment with the Panthers, Rice spent two seasons with head coach Phil Martelli at Saint Joseph s University in Philadelphia, Pa., from While with the Hawks, Rice helped guide Saint Joseph s to a combined record of (.623 winning percentage) and a pair of NIT bids. In , the Hawks finished with an overall record of 24-12, advancing to the 2005 NIT final. At Saint Joseph s, Rice primarily worked with the post players. Between , Rice served as the director of the Hoop Group Eastern Invitational Basketball Camp. As director, he oversaw all camp activities, including recruiting student-athletes for participation in camps and related events. Rice also oversaw the development of the prestigious Eastern Invitational Team Camp, which expanded from 12 to 64 teams over a threeyear period with him as director. We are very pleased to bring someone of this caliber to Robert Morris University, said President Gregory G. Dell Omo, Ph.D., at the time of Rice s appointment. Mike has a tremendous amount of experience and is Men s Basketball Media Guide 37

4 SEASON AD COACH MIKE RICE HEAD COACH MIKE RICE HEAD COACH MIKE RICE HEAD COACH MIKE RICE HEAD COACH MIKE RICE an up-and-coming individual in the world of college basketball. He s had great success as a player, and as a coach. We are very proud to have Mike and his family as a part of. As an assistant coach at Marquette, Rice was instrumental in helping lead the Golden Eagles to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in both 1996 and In addition, Marquette claimed the 1997 Conference USA Tournament championship and finished as the NIT runner-up in His lone season at Niagara during the campaign saw the Purple Eagles finish third in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. A 1991 graduate of Fordham, Rice was a three-year starter for the Rams at guard. He appeared in 117 career games, serving as team captain of a squad that posted an overall record of 25-8, including an 11-1 mark in the Patriot League. That season Fordham earned an appearance in the NIT, and Rice s 152 assists rank as the sixth highest single-season total in school history. Rice earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from Fordham in 1991 and began his coaching assistant career there as an assistant. In 1992, the Rams captured WHAT THEY RE SAYING ABOUT MIKE RICE I think that Mike Rice is incredibly well prepared to be a head coach, and Robert Morris has attracted a proven winner for its program. His experiences from working as an assistant coach for 14 years, with all the quality head coaches he worked under, helps him bring a tremendous amount of knowledge to his position. He also has an incredible passion for the game of basketball, and his players, as well as the campus and community, will feed off that. Rob Kennedy, President, The Hoop Group the Patriot League tournament title and subsequent berth in the NCAA Tournament. A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Rice attended Boardman High School in Boardman, Ohio, where he earned three varsity letters in basketball. A three-year starter, Rice was a two-time All-Northeast Ohio honoree and two-time Steel Valley All-Conference selection. Rice was raised in a basketball family, as his father, Mike Rice Sr., served as head coach at both Duquesne ( ) and Youngstown State ( ). The elder Rice currently serves as the television color commentator for the Portland Trailblazers. Rice resides in Pittsburgh with his wife, Kerry, and their two children, son Michael (11) and daughter Katie (9). From an athletic family, Rice s mother, Kathy, played collegiate basketball at Duquesne, while his sisters, Susan and Stephanie, each played collegiate tennis at Syracuse. THE MIKE RICE FILE Birthdate: Feb. 13, 1969 Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa. Age: 40 Alma Mater / Year: Fordham 91 Degree: Bachelor of Arts (Communications) High School: Boardman (Boardman, Ohio) Family: Wife Kerry, son Michael and daughter Katie COLLEGIATE EXPERIENCE: Robert Morris University; Moon Township, Pa. Head Coach (2007 present) University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, Pa. Assistant Coach ( ) Saint Joseph s University; Philadelphia, Pa. Assistant Coach ( ) Hoop Group Eastern Invitational Basketball Camp; Neptune, N.J. Director ( ) Chicago State University; Chicago, Illinois Assistant Coach ( ) Niagara University; Niagara University, N.Y. Assistant Coach ( ) Marquette University; Milwaukee, Wisc. Assistant Coach ( ) Fordham University; Bronx, N.Y. Assistant Coach ( ) PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Fordham University; Bronx, N.Y. Guard ( ) Boardman High School; Boardman, Ohio Guard ( ) 38 Robert Morris University

5 HEAD COACH MIKE RICE HEAD COACH MIKE RICE HEAD COACH MIKE RICE HEAD COACH MIKE RICE HEAD COACH MIKE RICE SEASON RICE vs. ALL Boston College Bryant Canisius Central Connecticut State Central Michigan Delaware Drexel Duquesne Fairleigh Dickinson Florida International Fordham Howard Iona Lafayette Long Island Marist Miami (Fla.) Monmouth Mount St. Mary s Navy Pittsburgh Quinnipiac Rutgers Sacred Heart Seton Hall Saint Francis (Pa.) St. Bonaventure St. Francis (N.Y.) Syracuse Wagner Xavier Youngstown State Mike Rice Year-by-Year Overall NEC NEC Year Record Pct. Record Pct. Finish Tournament st Semifinals st Champions TOTALS Mike Rice By The Numbers 1st Place Robert Morris finished in the Northeast Conference in both and, the program s fifth and sixth overall regular-season championships 2 Number of NEC Jim Phelan Coach of the Year accolades for Rice 5 Number of players to earn All-Northeast Conference accolades under Rice s guidance, as former Colonials Tony Lee, A.J. Jackson and Jeremy Chappell and current forward Rob Robinson have each been named to either the All-NEC First Team or NEC Second Team the past two seasons 9 Number of Northeast Conference road victories Rice led the Colonials to in as finished a perfect 9-0 in league games away from the Charles L. Sewall Center 15 Consecutive road wins for Robert Morris against NEC opponents over the course of the and seasons, a league record 16 Number of school records either tied broken under Rice s watch in his two seasons as head coach at Robert Morris in Number of victories Rice led Robert Morris to in , a school record as well the most by a first-year head coach in the history of the Northeast Conference 50 Number of victories Rice has led Robert Morris to over the course of the last two seasons, the most in a two-year span in the history of the Northeast Conference 57 Number of points Robert Morris scored in a upset win over Boston College of the Athletic Coast Conference in January of 2008, the program s biggest victory in the 33-year history of the program Men s Basketball Media Guide 39

6 Five Questions with Robert Morris head coach Mike Rice their passing, their shooting, their cutting, their leadership. Everything we do in our program starts with them. They have to become the next leaders. This group has a chance to be the class with the most wins in school history, and that s a testament to the hard work they ve put in the past couple of seasons. I m proud of them for that. SEASON When you were hired as s head coach, could you envision the success the program has had over the last two years? One of the attractive things about this position was the fact that there were pieces in place to allow this program to be successful. Did I think we would win 50 games in two years? No. I did feel that by adding a little bit of depth to the team and instilling a defensive philosophy that we could win some games and challenge for the top spot in our conference. There has been a lot of dedication from the people within the program, from my assistant coaches down to our players, that have allowed us to have the success we ve had. There is no substitute for hard work. Talk a little about Jeremy Chappell and Bateko Francisco and what they brought to the program. There isn t one player that I m more proud of than Jeremy Chappell. He bought into what we were teaching. It was tough at times, but his effort was consistent every day, and he was a leader for the rest of our team. Bateko was another consistent player, and I m proud of what he accomplished in his two years at Robert Morris. He was tenacious on defense and really set the tone for how we wanted to play as a program. My hope is that what Jeremy and Bateko did rubbed off on the players that we still have. You have three seniors in Dallas Green, Jimmy Langhurst and Mezie Nwigwe that have really excelled under your guidance. Talk a little about their development over the past couple of years. Because of my formula, and the fact that I play with 10 or 11 players, that allowed them to get on the court and play through some of their mistakes early on. What I ask of all of our players is that they always defend, and those three really have taken to that. Now it s their turn to be more consistent with everything they do, whether it s What have the players that you ve recruited brought to the program? You have a new group of players that are really going to be integral to the success the program has in the future. You can t defend the way you need to in order to win a Northeast Conference championship playing only seven players. Guys like Bateko Francisco, Rob Robinson, Gary Wallace, they ve added the depth that we needed in order to compete for championships. Now this year, we feel we ve brought in a tremendously talented group of players. We have some good athletes and some good basketball players, but how quickly will they understand our formula? It s always nice to see the players you recruit buy into the system, and that s been rewarding. With all the success the program has had in your two years as head coach, do you feel any pressure? I m definitely afraid of losing a basketball game, afraid of failing. That scares me more than pressure. I don t feel pressure that way. Losing is the worst feeling in the world, and that s what motivates me. What motivates me is getting the most out of our guys on a daily basis to help them improve. We have expectations now within this program, and I like the expectations because that means you re successful. Expectations are interesting, because our guys may think that by just putting on a Robert Morris uniform they re going to be successful. My job is to get them to continue to work hard in order for them to be successful. 40 Robert Morris University

7 SEASON Andrew Toole Third Robert Morris Second Year as Associate Head Coach Fourth Year Overall as an Assistant Coach In his third season on the Colonial coaching staff and in his second year as associate head coach is Andrew Toole. He was named associate head coach in May of As well as coaching the post and wing players, Toole serves as head coach Mike Rice s top recruiter. Andrew is a bright, young coach in this profession, and his promotion to associate head coach is because he s shown a commitment to me and the Robert Morris basketball program, Rice said at the time of his promotion. Not only is he a good coach on the floor, but he s a talented recruiter and is someone that, in time, will be a successful head coach someday. A native of Red Bank, N.J., prior to joining Rice s staff at Robert Morris Toole spent the campaign as an assistant coach at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. While an assistant with the Leopards, Toole assisted in all facets of the program, from recruiting to on-court coaching. Prior to Lafayette, Toole spent two years with The Hoop Group in Neptune, N.J., from He served as the director of the Eastern Invitational Basketball Clinic, where he handled logistical management for the nation s largest high school exposure camp. Also as director, Toole maintained relationships with elite high school and AAU coaches. In 2004, Toole served as director of Rebounds, a 28,000-square foot facility where high school players can focus on development. Toole was a four-year starter at the Division I level, playing for Elon ( ) before transferring to Penn ( ). In two seasons with the Quakers, Toole helped guide Penn to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 2002 and A co-captain of a Penn team that finished with an overall record of 22-6, in two years as a starter Toole helped lead the Quakers to an overall record of On the campaign, Toole led Penn with a free throw percentage of 87.3 (69- for-79), which ranks tied for fifth in the single-season record book. Over his four-year career at Elon and Penn, Toole averaged 12.3 points per contest, finishing with 1,341 points in 109 games. He also posted averages of 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals per contest. In two seasons at Penn he hit 104 three-pointers and on his career finished with 212. Toole earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Pennsylvania in He resides in Mt. Lebanon, Pa. The Toole File Who: Andrew Toole Born: Sept. 11, 1980 What: Associate Head Coach Year at : third Alma Mater / Year: Penn / 2003 Degree: B.A. in political science EXPERIENCE Robert Morris University, Moon Township, Pa; Associate Head Coach (2008 present) Assistant Coach ( ) Lafayette College, Easton, Pa.; Assistant Coach ( ) OTHER EXPERIENCE The Hoop Group, Neptune, N.J.; Director, Eastern Invitational Basketball Clinic ( ) PLAYING EXPERIENCE Elon Guard ( ) Penn Guard ( ) Men s Basketball Media Guide 41

8 Jimmy Martelli Third Robert Morris Fifth Year Overall as an Assistant Coach The season marks the third year for Jimmy Martelli as an assistant coach at Robert Morris. He is responsible for assisting in all aspects of the program, including tutoring the guards while serving as a chief recruiter. Martelli has been a key part of a coaching staff at Robert Morris that in the last two seasons has seen the Colonials post an overall record of (.725), including a mark of 31-5 (.861) against Northeast Conference opponents. appeared in the 2008 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) before marking its sixth appearance in the NCAA Tournament in Under Martelli s watch, former guards Tony Lee ( ) and Jeremy Chappell ( ) have blossomed with the help of Martelli, with Lee earning the 2008 NEC Player of the Year, while Chappell was tabbed the 2009 NEC Player of the Year. Former guard Bateko Francisco ( ) was also tabbed the 2009 NEC Defensive Player of the Year. A native of Media, Pa., Martelli served as an assistant coach at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va., during the campaign. While an assistant with the Yellow Jackets, Martelli helped guide R-MC to an overall record of 14-12, working with players to improve their individual skills as well as serving as the program s primary recruiter. During the campaign, Martelli served as an assistant at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa. A 2005 graduate of Dickinson with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Martelli was a two-year starter at point guard for the Red Devils. In two seasons Martelli finished with 211 assists, helping him finish his career in the top 10 all-time at Dickinson. A product of a coaching family, Martelli s father, Phil, is the head men s basketball coach at Saint Joseph s University in Philadelphia, Pa. Martelli resides in Pittsburgh, Pa. The Martelli File Who: Jimmy Martelli Born: Oct. 28, 1982 What: Assistant Basketball Coach Year at : second Alma Mater / Year: Dickinson / 2005 Degree: B.A. in English EXPERIENCE Robert Morris University, Moon Township, Pa; Assistant Coach (2007 present) Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, Va.; Assistant Coach ( ) Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa.; Assistant Coach ( ) PLAYING EXPERIENCE Dickinson Guard ( ) SEASON 42 Robert Morris University

9 SEASON Robby Pridgen First Robert Morris Seventh Year Overall as an Assistant Coach The season marks the first year for Robby Pridgen as an assistant coach at Robert Morris. He is responsible for coaching the post players as well as serving as one of the program s top recruiters. A native of Akron, Ohio, Pridgen spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach at alma mater Roanoke, where he helped guide the Division III Maroons to an overall record of (.667). In his first season as an assistant at Roanoke in , the Maroons appeared in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament championship game, where they fell to Hamden-Sydney, Roanoke posted an overall record of that season, followed by marks of 18-9 in and 19-7 last year. Robby is a young and up-and-coming coach, and he proved to me that he possesses a great amount of energy and enthusiasm for what he does, Rice said at the time of his hiring. He comes from a very successful Division III program at Roanoke, and we re extremely excited about him joining our staff at Robert Morris. A 2003 graduate of Roanoke with a Bachelor of Science degree in health and human performance, Pridgen was a three-time All-ODAC selection during his playing career with the Maroons, earning first team honors in 2002 and 2003 after being named to the All-ODAC Second Team in Pridgen ranks sixth all-time on the career scoring list at Roanoke after compiling 1,586 points and also owns career school records for three-pointers (228), threepoint field goal attempts (568) and free throw percentage (.864). In the single-game record book for the Maroons, Pridgen owns the record for three-pointers with nine. Pridgen started his coaching career as an assistant at Division III Mount Union during the campaign before spending two seasons at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) from He played his prep career at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, and was a teammate of Maverick Carter, the agent for Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Pridgen resides in Robinson Township, Pa. The Pridgen File Who: Robby Pridgen Born: Jan. 19, 1980 What: Assistant Basketball Coach Year at : first Alma Mater / Year: Roanoke / 2003 Degree: B.A. in Health & Human Performance EXPERIENCE Robert Morris University, Moon Township, Pa; Assistant Coach (2009 present) Roanoke College; Roanoke, Va.; Assistant Coach ( ) Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pa.; Assistant Coach ( ) Mount Union College, Alliance, Ohio; Assistant Coach ( ) PLAYING EXPERIENCE Roanoke Guard ( ) Men s Basketball Media Guide 43

10 Administrative staff DAVE SCARBOROUGH Director of Basketball Operations First Robert Morris In his first season at Robert Morris is Dave Scarborough, who serves as director of basketball operations. Scarborough spent the season as an assistant coach at Division III LaRoche College in Pittsburgh, Pa., tutoring the guards and forwards while serving as a chief recruiter. In 2009, the Red Hawks finished 27th in the country in scoring defense. During the same time, Scarborough served as the director of basketball operations for Hoop Mountain Basketball in Pittsburgh, Pa., helping run one of the largest AAU organizations in the country. Scarborough, a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., has also served as a site director, head coach and instructor for Basketball Stars of America ( ) and as a camp counselor for Five-Star Basketball ( ). A 2009 graduate of California University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in sports management studies, Scarborough was named a Presidential Scholar for six straight semesters from 2006 to Scarborough resides in Pittsburgh, Pa. DAVID RICHARDS Video Coordinator First Robert Morris Also in his first season with the Robert Morris men s basketball program is David Richards, who assists the program in a variety of capacities. A 2009 graduate of Westminster College with a Bachelor of Science degree in financial economics, Richards was a four-year letterwinner for the men s basketball program. Richards served as team captain for the Titans as a senior in, starting 22 games while leading the team in assists with 96. He also averaged 6.3 points per game. Richards was part of a Westminster team that claimed the Presidents Athletic Conference championship in Richards has also spent time at various basketball camps throughout the region, serving as a counselor at the Westminster Basketball Camp from 2006 to 2008 and the Robert Morris, Drill 4 Skills Select and Hoop Group Elite Camps in A native of New Castle, Pa., Richards resides in Pittsburgh, Pa. Student Managers SEASON Jaclyn King Video Coordinator Justin Haas Student Manager Marc Heil Student Manager Nick Lackey Student Manager Chris Speer Student Manager Kim Waiters Student Manager 44 Robert Morris University