He's Back: Former Boise State Player Returns to Coaching Staff

It was a peculiar year for Boise State men's basketball, who is hearing up to start a new season this Fall in a brand new conference.

For years, Boise State fans demanded a 'conference upgrade' with dreams of the Pac-12 or the Big 12 based off of their football team's success. Now, the Broncos are getting what they wanted all along, an upgrade to the Pac-12 which will inevitably bring new challenges and a fresh new feel to all Bronco athletics.

With a new conference will come some familiar faces-- the likes of Utah State and San Diego State who often dominate basketball.

Newcomers, like Gonzaga University, a national blue blood in basketball, will likely be a real problem for most in the conference.

In a press release by the Boise State Athletics Department, it was said of Max:

Max's knowledge, paired with the success he enjoyed as a player, both collegiately and professionally, will serve as an undeniable asset. What better person to help coach this group than someone who won over 100 games in this uniform, was an all-conference performer, and has intimate knowledge of what it takes to be successful in this program

The guy that said it? Max's father-- Leon, the head basketball coach.

Some fans are thrilled to have Max, who was a star player for Boise State, back in. Others are questioning the move given his relationship down the bench.

At the end of the day, the Broncos need to win. Could Max Rice be a piece that helps make that happen?

Boise State's Most Underappreciated Star

Boise State seems to mean "football" for most, right? On a national stage, after all, it's the blue turf and the success that the Broncos have had on it that made the university a household name. What happens on the hardwood, however, is far from appreciated at the level that it should be. Leon Rice came to Boise State as a blessing from one of the most powerful basketball programs in the nation: Gonzaga University. Now, the winningest basketball coach in the history of the school seems to take immediate heat if the Broncos aren't in the Final Four. Spoiled by wins on the football field, fans seem to expect the same of the basketball program but when the investment in basketball is so much less than football--can you really have these types of expectations!?

Gallery Credit: Credit: Mateo, 103.5 KISS FM