ST. IGNATIUS – The Mission Valley community is mourning the passing of a man who coached generations of kids on the basketball court while teaching them lessons about life beyond sports.
Les Rice, 61, known as “Coach Rice” lost his hard fought battle against cancer earlier this week. He leaves behind his loving wife, children and grandchildren and many generations of students at Saint Ignatius High School who are better for having him as a coach and friend.
We caught up with him two years ago as he was coaching his granddaughter’s basketball team with his daughter as his assistant coach by his side.
There will be a memorial service Monday, February 18 at 2 p.m. in the Saint Ignatius High School gym. People are encouraged to wear Bulldog blue. And bring clean tennis shoes because after the service, friends and family can shoot hoops in honor of Coach Rice in the gym he loved so much.
