INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Midwest Athletic Conference added another member to its staff by officially announcing Rick Tice as assistant commissioner effective on Monday, January 13.
Great Midwest commissioner Tom Daeger welcomed Tice from one of the league’s member institutions, Malone University, after he formerly coached women’s basketball and served as an administrator for the Pioneers in their athletic department.
Tice will provide direct oversight to the conference’s 23 championship sport offerings while also guiding the awards program and identifying areas in external relations, specifically sponsorship development, to assist in the league’s growth.
"Rick will be a great addition to the Conference team,” said Daeger. “His experience as a collegiate coach and administrator will serve the league well as we continue to develop championships celebrating the student-athletes. We are looking forward to collaborating with Rick as he prioritizes championships and external relations for the Conference."
Tice coached the Malone women’s basketball program as the No. 2 seed to a Great Midwest championship tournament title in the 2016-17 season. The Pioneers also earned an automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Championship Midwest Regional in their first year as a conference member.
In 2018, Tice stepped down as head coach to leave the program in the hands of 2019 Great Midwest Coach of the Year Selana Reale. He transitioned into a full-time assistant athletic director role for Malone while contributing in game operations and also teaching on campus.
This past spring season, Tice also helped coach the Malone softball program, helping out as an assistant for Kathryn Bzdafka as the Pioneers enjoyed postseason success in the conference tournament with a pair of wins.
Tice has been in the role of assistant athletic director since 2015 under the leadership of former Malone AD Charlie Grimes and helped pilot the Pioneers’ first contract with adidas.
He has also assisted with cultivating sponsorships for Malone as part of the Great Midwest Digital Network and aided the university’s fundraising efforts.
“I would like to thank (commissioner) Tom Daeger and his staff for the opportunity to join them and be a part of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference,” said Tice. “I am looking forward to the opportunities and challenges as this conference continues to grow and compete regionally and nationally. Having been a part of this conference for many years, I am especially excited to work with our outstanding coaches and student-athletes and enhance their championship experiences.”
Tice graduated from Malone with his degree in Mathematics/Computer Science with Secondary Education. He went on to finish graduate school at the United States Sports Academy with his concentration in Sports Science.