April 5, 2001
LAS VEGAS - Deane Martin has been hired as an assistant coach for the UNLV men's basketball team and Dave Rice has been retained on staff as the director of basketball operations, which completes the Runnin' Rebels staff, head coach Charlie Spoonhour announced Thursday.
Martin, 37, comes to UNLV after spending two seasons with the University of Tennessee at Martin. Martin joined UT Martin in the spring of 1999 and leaves after serving this past season as the associate head coach.
Prior to UT Martin, Martin was at Saint Louis University where he was an administrative assistant on Spoonhour's staff from 1997-99. He came to Saint Louis after spending four seasons on the staff at his alma mater Central Missouri.
"Deane was part of our group before," Spoonhour said. "He is not afraid of working hard. This is a great opportunity for him and this program. He knows how we do things and that will be very beneficial on the floor."
Prior to his return to Central Missouri, Martin was a member of the Cowley County Community College staff in Arkansas City, Kan., from 1989-92. He served on the staff at Neosho County CC in Kan., in 1988-89 prior to moving to Cowley.
Martin is from Mercer, Mo., where he was a unanimous All-Missouri player in high school. He played two seasons at Trenton Junior College in Mo., before continuing his career at Central Missouri.
Martin, who is single, graduated from Central Missouri in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in physical education.
Rice, 31, has just completed his eighth season with the Runnin' Rebels. He has served as an assistant coach since the 1994-95 season.
A member of the 1989-90 NCAA Championship Runnin' Rebel squad and the 1990-91 Final Four team, he returned to his alma mater after serving as an assistant coach at Chaffey College in Ontario, Calif. Rice was a graduate assistant coach on Jerry Tarkanian's final UNLV staff in 1991-92.
"I have only known Dave a short time," Spoonhour said. "I talked to a number of people about Dave and everyone is extremely complimentary of him and his potential as a coach. I am very happy to have him as part of our staff and I look forward to a great relationship."
Rice graduated from UNLV in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in political science with an impressive 3.95 grade point average and earned a master's degree in business administration from UNLV in 1993.
Rice is married to the former Mindy Wright and the couple has a son named Travis (3).
Deane Martin FactsBorn: March, 18, 1964Hometown: Mercer, Mo.High School: North Mercer, 1982, Mercer, Mo.Education: Central Missouri, B.S., 1987Coaching Experience: UT Martin, 1999-01 Saint Louis, 1997-99 Central Missouri, 1992-96 Cowley CC, 1989-92 Neosho County CC, 1988-89Collegiate Playing Experience: Central Missouri, 1984-86 Trenton Junior College, 1982-84
Dave Rice FactsBorn: Aug. 29, 1969Hometown: Las Vegas, Nev.High School: Claremont, 1987, Claremont, Calif.Education: UNLV, B.S., 1991 UNLV, M.B.A., 1993Coaching Experience: UNLV, 1994-pres. Chaffey College, 1993-94 UNLV, 1991-92Collegiate Playing Experience: UNLV, 1989-91 Mount San Antonio College, 1987-89
