Fansided

25 worst coaching hires in the history of college basketball

By Joey Loose

LEXINGTON, KY - JANUARY 21: Head coach Billy Gillispie of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts to the action during the SEC game against the Auburn Tigers at Rupp Arena on January 21, 2009 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - JANUARY 21: Head coach Billy Gillispie of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts to the action during the SEC game against the Auburn Tigers at Rupp Arena on January 21, 2009 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Worst college basketball coach hires
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – FEBRUARY 19: Head coach Mike Rice of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights coaches against the Syracuse Orange at Louis Brown Athletic Center on February 19, 2012 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images) /

5. Mike Rice Jr. – Rutgers (2010-2013)

  • 44-51 record (3 seasons)

These last few seasons have represented a major revival for Rutgers, but before this, there was certainly a long period of struggle for the Scarlet Knights. The program was a cellar dweller in both the Big East and Big Ten over the years, recently breaking a 30-year NCAA Tournament drought. There were a number of uninteresting or insignificant head coaches during that long run of trouble, but one, in particular, brought a whole new level of trouble to Piscataway.

Mike Rice Jr. had bounced around as a collegiate assistant for several years, with notable stints at Marquette, Saint Joseph’s and Pittsburgh. His only previous head coaching stint at come across the last three years, doing fantastic work at Robert Morris. Rice led the Colonials to three straight NEC regular-season titles and a pair of NCAA Tournaments. Rutgers hired him to help turn things around for the Scarlet Knights in 2010.

From that standpoint, Rice didn’t turn things around, leading the Scarlet Knights to a 44-51 record, with three straight seasons just under .500. His troubles didn’t stem from Rutgers’ record, but his behavior elsewhere. Rice had been suspended in 2012 for abusive behavior, but everything came apart when a video of his abuse came to light in 2013. He abused and berated his players and brought great shame to Rutgers, with the video becoming a national story and leading to the dismissal of both him and the athletic director. Rutgers was then even more abysmal the next few years, making the eventual efforts of current coach Steve Pikiell even more amazing. Rice has not returned to collegiate coaching.