Finalist - 2009 Coaches of the Year powered by Critical Reload

Leon Rice’s came to Gonzaga in 1999 as part of head coach Mark Few’s inaugural staff, and in 2007 he was promoted to associate head coach.  Since becoming a Bulldog, Rice has contributed to the wildest ride in Gonzaga’s storied basketball history.

Gonzaga is 236-60 in Rice’s tenure!

“Leon has been a fantastic addition to our staff. To be able to get someone with as much experience as Leon has recruiting on the road and knowing the ins and outs of the Northwest was a big advantage for us.” Few has said about Rice.
Rice joined the Bulldogs from Yakima Valley College where he served two seasons as an assistant coach and one as co-head coach with the legendary Dean Nicholson, then served as head coach for the 1998-99 campaign

Few and Rice have known each other for 16 years, the two of them becoming acquainted when Rice was on Don Monson’s staff at the University of Oregon and the two worked Monson’s camp together.

Rice received his B.A. in physical education from Washington State University in 1986 and his M.A. in athletic administration, management and program development from Oregon in 1991. After one year of high school coaching, he began his collegiate career as a graduate assistant coach at Oregon in 1989, then served two seasons as a fulltime assistant coach for the Ducks. He was the head assistant coach at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley for three seasons prior to going to YVC.