After three seasons of losing 20 games or more, the Monmouth Hawks are expected to take a step forward in 2014-15. Head coach King Rice returns four starters from last year’s team, led by guards Andrew Nicholas and Deon Jones, and the Hawks were picked to finish sixth in the MAAC preseason coaches polls.
With the combination of renewed optimism regarding the team’s prospects on the court, and the recent work of Rice and his staff on the recruiting trail, the head coach has been given a three-year contract extension. Rice’s deal will now run through the 2018-19 campaign.
“The extension of the contract of our head men’s basketball coach is a vote of confidence in his work to date,” Mommouth Vice President and AD Dr. Marilyn McNeil said in the release. “I believe in his vision and hope for the future of Monmouth Basketball. We are on the right track, academically and athletically, and I expect there will be nothing but an upward trajectory in the years to come!”
In addition to the returning starters Monmouth will add five newcomers, including transfers Je’lon Hornbeak and Brice Kofane and freshman guard Austin Tilghman. Unfortunately for Monmouth talented freshman guard Micah Seaborn was declared ineligible for the upcoming season by the NCAA, but the Hawks have enough pieces to help account for that personnel loss.
Monmouth opens its season Friday night at West Virginia.