Rick Tice enters his second season as the head coach of the women’s basketball team this winter after a very successful first season in 2016-17. Tice led the Pioneers to a 23-7 overall record last season, a Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Championship, and Malone’s first-ever berth in the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament. The 23 wins for Malone in 2016-17 was the most since winning 24 in 2001-02 and the second-most since winning a school record 30 in 1982-83. During his first season, Tice also coached Malone to an upset of Division I Bowling Green.
Before taking over the program last winter, Tice, a 1986 Malone graduate, had previously served as an assistant coach for five seasons, helping the Pioneers compile a 21-10 record and reach the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Championship Game in 2013-14.
Tice also served two prior stints on the Malone men’s basketball staff with long-time head coach Hal Smith, first as a student assistant, then again as an assistant coach from 2001-05. Tice also played baseball for long time Malone coach Bob Starcher. Starcher would later join Tice as part of his baseball staff at Lake High School.
Prior to joining the Pioneer women’s basketball staff, Tice worked the previous four seasons as part of the boys’ staff at Green High School for Mark Kinsley. The Bulldogs were District Runner-ups in 2010-2011 and Sectional Champs in 2009-10. Tice was also named Federal League and District 4 Coach of the Year during his time as the head girls’ coach at Lake High School.
In addition to coaching, Tice has also served as Malone’s Assistant Athletic Director for the past two years in which he has had numerous responsibilities, including home game management, scheduling, contracts and business operations. He will maintain this title moving forward as he continues to serve in an administrative role within the athletic department.
Tice earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and Computer Science with Secondary Educations from Malone in 1986. He then completed his Master’s Degree from the United States Sports Academy in Mobile, Alabama in 1989 and has previously taught in the Mathematics department at Malone.
Tice resides in Green with daughter Allison, a current junior at Malone, and son Robbie.
“Coach Tice knows first-hand how important a coach can be in the lives of his or her players,” commented Athletic Director Charlie Grimes. “As an alumnus of our department, longtime assistant coach, and current administrator, Rick will intentionally care for our student-athletes, positively motivating them to be the best they can be both on and off the court. I’m confident in his abilities to coach excellence in basketball, and also in his commitment to live out our “Christ Kingdom First” mission everyday with our students.”
