Mike Rice new head coach at Rutgers

Rutgers has hired Robert Morris' Mike Rice, Jr. as their new men's basketball coach, according to reports.

Rice replaces Fred Hill, who resigned two weeks ago after agreeing to a settlement that avoided a bitter court battle. The Scarlet Knights were 47-77 under Hill in four seasons, including a 13-57 record in the Big East.

Rice, the Northeast Conference Coach of the Year the last two seasons, agreed to a contract extension last month that would have kept him at Robert Morris through the 2016-17 season.

Rice led Robert Morris to the last two NCAA tournaments and the Colonials scared ninth-ranked Villanova in this season's opening round before losing 73-70 in overtime.