Mike Rice Hopeful for Return to College Ranks After Leading The Patrick School to New Jersey State Title

TRENTON, N.J. — Mike Rice doesn’t like to talk about redemption.

He’s not in the coaching business for any kind of recovery or reclamation or return.

He’s in it because he’s a basketball lifer, a guy who just loves teaching kids and coaching the game of basketball — as I wrote in this New York Times story in December.

With all that said, Rice is a shrewd guy, too. He knows that leading The Patrick School to the New Jersey Tournament of Champions title on Monday night — and behaving well all season long en route to the title — can probably help him back into college basketball.

“I hope it sends a positive [message], but that’s not my purpose,” Rice said after co-coaching the Celtics to a 69-55 victory over Don Bosco Prep in the New Jersey Tournament of Champions final on Monday night at Sun National Bank Center. “My purpose is developing and being a part of these individuals’ lives, these student-athletes’ lives, and doing it in a positive way. And that’s what my motivation is.”