Dave Rice design for SLCC shaded in BYU blue

As co-architect of Jimmermania, Dave Rice is drawing up plans for Salt Lake Community College. The Bruins’ new basketball coach has a lot of personal history to learn, including a 159-46 record over his six years as Dave Rose’s offensive assistant at BYU.

“There is great basketball played in Utah and the high school coaching here is second to none,” Rice told the “Y’s Guys” podcast this week. “I think we can put together a combination of Utah guys with national recruiting and I think we can have a roster that is similar, in terms of how it’s made up, to what we did at BYU.”

Rice played on Jerry Tarkanian’s 1990 national championship team at UNLV. His coaching journey included stints with the Rebels, Nevada, Washington, Utah State and BYU, where the Cougars averaged 26.5 wins per season between 2006 and 2011.

He’s been there and done that, and brings the culmination of it all to the Bruins’ powerhouse program at the junior college level.

“We talk about showcasing great individual talent, but doing it in a team concept and a fun atmosphere,” Rice said. “We’re going to share the ball. Let’s play basketball as a team. You’ll have fun practicing every day and we’ll give you the exposure you deserve and get you to the place where you can play your best basketball.

Rice will make his SLCC debut against Western Nebraska on Nov. 1 at Snow College in Ephraim. He wants his program to be a launching pad for his players, just as BYU launched National Player of the Year Jimmer Fredette, an NBA lottery pick and now a U.S. Olympian.

Developing Jimmer

Unlike many of today’s college newcomers, Fredette spent his freshman season playing a limited role off the bench. The diamond in the rough from Glens Falls, New York, remained patient as Rice polished him on offense.

“In the middle of his sophomore year, we were playing San Diego State, and we were at halftime and that’s when he became ‘Jimmer,’” Rice said. “He took over the game. That’s when you knew this kid was going to be something really special.”

Fredette scored 28 points and had five steals as BYU erased a 14-point deficit and defeated the Aztecs 69-59 for their first victory in San Diego in five years.

While Fredette exploded, Rice evolved – like a young offensive coach.

“One of the big lessons I learned was to get out of the way,” he said. “Don’t get in the way of a great player. Sometimes his best attack is to just clear the floor and tell Jimmer to go to work.”

Fredette’s justifiable green light to shoot whenever and wherever he wants might clash with a team that prides itself on playing selflessly, but not this group. They really enjoyed winning.

“We were near the top of the country in assists, but Jimmer was a phenomenal talent and our guys understood that,” Rice said. “It worked because the guys understood they needed Jimmer and Jimmer understood how much he needed them. The combination of those things made it work and Coach Rose was a master at pushing the right buttons.”

Fredette the Olympian

Rice and the BYU staff spent a lot of time in and out of practice trying to find ways to give Fredette the basketball with enough space to do his thing. The thought of eliminating two of the five defensemen never crossed his mind until he saw Fredette make the United States Olympic 3×3 basketball team.

“I hope he takes home the gold medal,” Rice said of Fredette’s upcoming race in Paris. “It’s tailor-made for him, with the way he plays. He believes he will find a way to put the ball in the basket. I still think about the New Mexico game in the (2011) conference tournament when he scored 52.”

Fredette will lead the United States in their 3-3 opener against Serbia on July 30.

Was the 2011 team a Final Four team?

BYU has never reached the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. Danny Ainge and his 1981 team came closest before losing to Virginia in the Elite Eight. The Cougars were poised to make program history at the end of Fredette’s senior season in 2011 under center Brandon Davies has been suspended for violating the BYU honor code.

Without Davies, the Cougars finished the Mountain West Tournament as runners-up to San Diego State, but still earned third place in the NCAA Tournament. Fredette led BYU past Wofford and Gonzaga before losing to Florida in overtime in the Sweet 16.

The loss of Davies proved too much to overcome.

“No doubt about it. We lost to Florida in overtime without Brandon and we would have had Butler next (in the Elite Eight),” Rice said. “We would have beaten Butler.”

Florida’s 83–74 victory ended the Cougars’ season with a program-best 34–5 record. While some argue that BYU’s honor code may have cost the Cougars athletic glory, Rice sees it differently.

“It was a difficult time, but we always had great respect for what BYU stood for,” Rice said. “I hope BYU never forgets that this is what made us special. As difficult as it was, as difficult as that moment was, I think it sent a message to the world that this is who we are. Brandon lived to fight another day and had a wonderful career and continues to play.”

Cougars with new look

While working on his own staff and roster at SLCC, Rice saw BYU’s Kevin Young do the same at a program he still feels a part of.

“Absolutely! We’re a BYU family, for sure,” Rice said. “We have great friends in the area. We spent six magical years in Provo. It was a wonderful time.”

Rice sees the Phoenix Suns’ signing of Young and signing high-level youth as a sign of the times for BYU.

“I think that says a lot about what a special place BYU is and its potential,” he said. “With the investment they’ve made in athletics and the need for NIL money, I think they have a chance to take the next step.”

Young gained national attention by signing two rookies considered first-round NBA prospects – Egor Demin and Kanon Catchings. He also signed ESPN Top 100 freshmen Brody Kozlowski and Elijah Crawford. Keba Keita (Utah) and Mowat Mag (Rutgers) came to the Cougars from the transfer portal to join returnees Dallin Hall, Richie Saunders, Trevin Knell, Fousseyni Traore and Trey Stewart.

“It’s a question of belief. They have the players in place and a great coaching staff,” Rice said. “I think when our teams led by Coach Rose took the field, we thought we were going to win. We felt like we deserved to win because of the way we trained and stayed together. It’s not their talent or their plans, Coach Young will figure all that out. It’s about the belief that we belong in the Big 12 and on the national stage.”

Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and a broadcaster and talk show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” on ysguys.com and is the author of the children’s book “C is for Cougar”, available at deseretbook. with.