Rolll......Radford!?

Congratulations to my former neighbor, Allen Rice on his new job at Radford University. Although, as a TIDE fan, I will miss knowing he is on campus at the university in t-town, I am so happy for he and Mandy.

Raccuia Taps Rice, Anderson To Be Assistants
July 11, 2007
RADFORD, Va. – New Radford University baseball coach Joe Raccuia has announced Wednesday that he has hired Brian Anderson (pictured left) and Allen Rice (Pictured right) to be assistant coaches for the Highlander program. Anderson’s primary duties at Radford include serving as the Highlanders’ pitching and catching coach. Rice will serve as RU’s third-base coach while working closely with the hitters and the outfielders. Both Anderson and Rice will also assist in all other aspects of the program, including recruiting, scouting, practice and game preparation. Anderson spent the two years prior to Radford as a volunteer assistant for Virginia. He worked directly with the Cavalier catchers and assisted with the development of the UVA hitters. On game days, Anderson served as Virginia’s first base coach. He was also responsible for running the Cavalier baseball camps, serving as the Coordinator of Atlantic Coast Camps. Before moving to Virginia, Anderson served as Joe Raccuia’s assistant coach at Marist College. His duties with the Red Foxes encompassed a wide range of responsibilities, including serving as the hitting coach and recruiting coordinator for Marist, coordinating camps and community service and serving as an equipment manager and groundskeeper. He helped Raccuia lead the Red Foxes to the 2005 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship and a berth in the 2005 Baton Rouge Regional. A native of Chesapeake, Va., Anderson got his coaching start at his alma mater, spending one year as a volunteer assistant at George Mason. A four-year starting catcher at GMU, ranks in the Patriots’ Top 10 in several career categories. After graduating from GMU with a Bachelor’s Degree in communications, Anderson inked a free agent contract with the then Montreal Expos. He played the 2002 season with the Class A Vermont Expos of the New York Penn League. “I’m very familiar with Brian, and he brings with him a system we had in place at Marist College. In the last couple of years, he’s had an opportunity to work in the ACC with some of the best players and coaches in the nation,” Raccuia said. “I look forward to him developing our pitchers and catchers, since that’s how you win ball games. He’s a great teacher of the game and a tireless worker.” Rice has spent last season working as the Director of Baseball Operations for the Crimson Tide. His duties with Alabama included a wide-range of responsibilities, including on-campus recruiting, scheduling, facility upgrades and team travel. He also helped with strength and conditioning, planning and management of summer and winter camps and budget management. He was responsible for players academic progress, helping to monitor their eligibility. A Birmingham, Ala. native, he was a four-year starter for the Crimson Tide, Rice was named Preseason All-Southeastern Conference in 2005. He helped lead the Tide to the 2001 and 2003 SEC Tournament titles and three NCAA Postseason appearances. An outstanding student as well, Rice was named to the SEC Honor Roll, was on Alabama’s Dean’s List. Rice earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Physical Education from Alabama in 2005 and a Master’s of Science in Human and Environmental Sciences in 2006 from Alabama. Rice is married to Mandy Tedder “We are very fortunate to have Allen coming off a stellar playing career at Alabama. He has a great grasp of the offensive side of the game. He will implement a system that is very aggressive, very fundamental and very exciting to watch,” Raccuia said. “His dedication to the game is unparalleled.”