Josh Newman

@Joshua_Newman

WEST LONG BRANCH - King Rice is staying put.

Monmouth University's head coach told Gannett New Jersey that he was never involved in openings at the University of Massachusetts, which hired Winthrop head coach Pat Kelsey on Tuesday, or Duquesne. Gannett New Jersey reported Monday that Rice had emerged as a top candidate at the Pittsburgh school.

Furthermore, Rice reiterated his happiness at Monmouth, saying he isn't going anywhere.

Ole Miss ends Monmouth's season in NIT

Rice, who is 106-92 in six seasons with the Hawks, just finished the first year of a five-year extension he signed on Feb. 26, 2016. That extension keeps him in West Long Branch through the 2020-21 season. Over the last two seasons, Rice's teams are 55-15 overall and 35-5 in the MAAC with two regular-season championships and two trips to the NIT.

After that unprecedented two-year run of success, Rice's stock is high. This is the second March in a row his name has been bandied about for other jobs. Last season, off a landmark 28-win season, Rice's name came up for the open position at Vanderbilt, which saw Rice mentor Kevin Stallings leave, while Bryce Drew ultimately was hired away from Valparaiso.

Monmouth’s season ended on March 14 via a 91-83 loss to Ole Miss in the first round of the NIT. That was the final game for Rice’s landmark senior class, spearheaded by 2,000-point scorer and two-time MAAC Player of the Year Justin Robinson. The Hawks are slated to return nine scholarship players in 2017-18, including All-MAAC first team guard Micah Seaborn, who will be a redshirt junior.

Staff Writer Josh Newman: jnewman@app.com