Monmouth coach King Rice says he’s not going anywhere.
Rice has been linked in recent days to the openings at UMass and Duquesne, but said he was never offered a job at another school and will remain at Monmouth.
“I was not involved at UMass,” Rice said Tuesday by phone after Gannett New Jersey first reported Rice planned on remaining at Monmouth. “Every time Eddie Fogler has a search my name goes crazy across the country. Not involved at UMass.
“Not involved in Duquesne. I don’t know where this is coming from at all.”
UMass on Tuesday officially introduced former Winthrop coach Pat Kelsey as its new head coach, replacing Derek Kellogg.
Fogler, the Queens, N.Y., native and former North Carolina star who was running the UMass search, is often linked to Rice because both played for the Tar Heels.
Duquesne fired Jim Ferry on March 13 after a 10-22 season and still owes him for two years, sources said.
Mike Rice, the former Pittsburgh assistant and Rutgers head coach who just led The Patrick School to the New Jersey Tournament of Champions title, has also been linked to the Duquesne job.
King Rice has been linked to the Duquesne job by various media reports. One source told ZAGSBLOG on Monday it was his to turn down.
“My wife sent me an article that said we were in talks,” Rice said. “That stuff never one time happened. Not even close to happening.”
Rice, 48, is 106-92 in six seasons at Monmouth and has won consecutive MAAC Coach of the Year awards. He is 55-15 the last two seasons.
Monmouth brings in recruits Marcus McClary and Deion Hammond next season after losing a strong senior class led by MAAC Player of the Year Justin Robinson.
McClary on Monday night went for 10 points, five rebounds and two assists to help The Patrick School beat Don Bosco Prep, 69-55, to win the school’s sixth New Jersey TOC title.
Monmouth assistant Duane Woodward was in attendance at the game.
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