Starting his 15th season as head coach at Monmouth University, King Rice is still searching for his first trip to the NCAA Tournament. A former North Carolina point guard under Dean Smith, Rice began his coaching career in 1992 as an assistant at Oregon before stops at Illinois State and Providence. He also served as head coach of the Bahamas men’s national team in 2001 and later as an assistant at Vanderbilt under Kevin Stallings. His first head coaching opportunity at the college level came in 2011 with Monmouth, where he has since become a staple of the program.
Big Season Ahead for Rice
Rice enters the 2025-26 season with a career record of 220-228, including a 1-2 mark in the NIT. The Hawks went 13-20 last season and 10-8 in conference play. His most successful years came in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, where Monmouth captured three regular-season titles and Rice earned MAAC Coach of the Year honors three times. Since joining the Coastal Athletic Association, the Hawks have gone 25-31 in league play and continue searching for a top-four finish.
Before his coaching days, Rice made his name as one of New York’s best high school players, winning Mr. New York Basketball in 1987 and earning McDonald’s All-American honors. His leadership and grit have carried over into coaching, where he’s built Monmouth into a respected mid-major program despite the ongoing wait for a March Madness appearance.
The Hawks open the 2025-26 campaign at the OceanFirst Bank Center with a Student White-Out game against Caldwell. Their only other home contest in November comes on the 23rd against Robert Morris. The road will not be easy, with back-to-back trips to Seton Hall and Syracuse early in the season and a December matchup against Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
2025-2026 Hawks Want to be That Team
Monmouth averaged 70.3 points per game last season, led by Abdi Bashir Jr., who has since transferred to Kansas State after scoring 20.1 per game. Replacing that offensive firepower will be one of Rice’s biggest challenges as he looks to push the Hawks back into contention and finally onto the national stage.