According to Ryan Ernst blog.

 

Newport hires Rice ...

Posted by RyanErnst at 2/23/2009 3:43 PM EST on Cincinnati.com

 

Newport has gone with one of its own to fill its head football coach vacancy.

 

Nick Rice, a Newport grad who went on to play football at Thomas More, has been hired as the Wildcats according to Newport principal Scott Draud.

 

Rice previously served as an assistant coach at Dayton. According to Draud he was selected from three finalists who interviewed for the job.

 

The Newport position opened up in December when Jim Hyder resigned after posting a 5-17 record in two seasons. The Wildcats have not won a district game or a playoff game since 2006.

Edited February 23, 200917 yr by sml007
Added blog

Fantastic. I had faith that they would make the right decision.

How many years since he played ball at Newport? Does he have the whiskers to effectively move the program in the right direction?

 

I wish the young man well and best of outcomes at Newport HS.

How many years since he played ball at Newport? Does he have the whiskers to effectively move the program in the right direction?

 

I wish the young man well and best of outcomes at Newport HS.

 

Think he graduated in 97 or 98. Im very confident that he has what it takes to get it going. How long it will take I have no idea. He's got a plan for not only the the Varsity program but all the way down to Jr High and below.

He graduated in '98, and if you mean credibility, then yes, Rice has it. He coached side by side with Lickert and Deaton at Dayton, so he has seen first hand the hurdles that young first year coaches have to clear. Add to that the fact that Nick has never really left Newport and has always been visible in the community and you have a coach that the players know. If you mean, by whiskers, playing credibility, I can personally attest, after having played him in high school and college, that he is one of the best players that I faced and I faced a few good ones (he was an All-American at TMC multiple times.) He's exactly who Newport needed to get students excited about the program. Nick is smart enough to surround himself with people who know football, humble enough to actually take their decisions, and strong enough to do what he knows is best.

Congrats to Nick. I'd imagine we will see a much-improved Newport squad in 2009. Best wishes to him and the Cats.

That is great news!

Congrats to Nick--A super guy who will do well--Also a loss to the Greendevils who will move forward. We all will root for Nick except for (1) one Friday night a year---Good Luck!!!!

Nick Rice knows the game, loves the game, and is enthusiastic about the game. He also is great working with the players. He was almost hired at Dayton, but they chose Deaton. Being the classy guy he is, he stayed on as D coordinator I believe. He is a great hire, Newport got a good one here, and Dayton lost a great coach. Congrats to Coach Rice

Nick was a warrior as a player at Newport. In 1997, he was one of the best players we faced all season. If he can get the Newport kids to take on his personality as a player, they will have an edge to them and play a very physical style of football. Best of luck to Nick and the Wildcats! :thumb:

Nick was a warrior as a player at Newport. In 1997, he was one of the best players we faced all season. If he can get the Newport kids to take on his personality as a player, they will have an edge to them and play a very physical style of football. Best of luck to Nick and the Wildcats! :thumb:

 

He was a beast in college... Just an absolutely relentless hitter....

 

I believe as late as last year he still put up 405 on the bench a time or two also :lol:

He was a beast in college... Just an absolutely relentless hitter....

 

I believe as late as last year he still put up 405 on the bench a time or two also :lol:

 

He could hang clean that back in college. Thats insane.

Congats Nick - he was IMO the best choice for Newport and the one that will bring back pride in Newport football.

Great choice for the Wildcats. Lets hope he can get them back to their winning ways back in the late 90's/early 2000's. Those teams were fun to follow. I have a feeling that Nick will get back to physical football. Newport was always a hard hitting team going way back to the early 80's and it should be interesting to see the direction he moves.

Great choice for the Wildcats. Lets hope he can get them back to their winning ways back in the late 90's/early 2000's. Those teams were fun to follow. I have a feeling that Nick will get back to physical football. Newport was always a hard hitting team going way back to the early 80's and it should be interesting to see the direction he moves.

 

Rice should be able to bring back a physical attitude to the Cats. You're right Newport under the days of Coach Murphy, Lucas and Schlarman were hard nosed and physical. Newport was also a very discipline team at that time too. Newport IMO has lacked discipline for the past two seasons. Coach Hyder is a great person and did what he could do with the team. The team had some discipline problems that IMO separated the team and when that happens it's hard to get it back on track. A lot of talent with the exiting senior group that could have benefited from a coach like Rice.