After a season that saw Rice Men’s Basketball win 15 games and advance to the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Tournament, Rice Director of Athletics Joe Karlgaard has announced that men’s basketball coach Scott Pera has agreed to an extension that will run through the 2023-24 season.
“The future of Rice men’s basketball is bright,” said Karlgaard. “Scott Pera has steadily built a terrific foundation and has effectively steered our approach to the modern recruiting environment. I’m excited by our prospects for success in the upcoming season and beyond with Coach Pera leading our program.”
“I want to thank Dr. Karlgaard and President (David) Leebron for their continued support and belief in my vision for our program,” said Pera. “We have not only shown growth on the court each of my four seasons but our team continues to set records in the classroom as well. I made a promise in the spring of 2017 to build a sustainable program that the university, our fan base and our alumni would be proud of. We have taken major steps towards accomplishing that goal and with this extension in place I feel the future is very bright.”
During the 2020-21 season, Pera led the Owls to a 15-13 record, Rice’s third winning season since 2005-06. He also led the Owls to back-to-back 15-win seasons for the first time since 2003-05. In 12 home games, Pera led Rice to a 9-3 record, its best home record since 2004-05. He also led it to a 9-3 non-conference record, its best since the 1955-56 season. The Owls closed the year by defeating Southern Miss and Marshall in the C-USA Tournament, the first time Rice earned a pair of victories in the tournament since 2007.
Under Pera’s tutelage, the duo of Quincy Olivari and Travis Evee were named third team All-Conference USA and C-USA Newcomer of the Year, respectively. He also helped Max Fiedler set the school single-season field goal percentage record while becoming the first player in school history to average 11.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
Over his four seasons, Pera has increased his winning percentage each year, becoming just the third coach in school history to do so.
“I am very proud of the group of student-athletes on our roster,” Pera stated. They are excited about the upcoming season and they continue to represent this amazing University with class. This journey has not been without adversity but to know that I share the same vision with Dr. Karlgaard and he sees all the positive steps we have taken makes the building process more fun. This program is in terrific shape moving forward and I am thrilled I get to continue to lead it for years to come. I am grateful for the patience and support so many of our fans and donors have given us and I can’t wait to see them all back in Tudor Fieldhouse this winter cheering this group on and we strive to reach the upper levels of Conference USA and beyond.”
Rice returns 11 letterwinners off of last year’s team and all five starters in Olivari, Evee, Fieldler, Chris Mullins and Riley Abercrombie. The squad returns 86.3% of its scoring and 81.7% of its rebounding. The team also welcomes freshmen Jaden Geron and Damion McDowell, Jr. as well as graduate transfers Terrance McBride and Carl Pierre.
https://riceowls.com/news/2021/7/8/mens-basketball-scott-pera-signs-extension-through-2024.aspx
