AP Source: Former UNLV coach Dave Rice hired at Nevada

Dave Rice is switching sides in Nevada's biggest basketball rivalry.

A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed Monday that Rice, a former UNLV coach and player, has been hired as an assistant at rival Nevada. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the school had not officially announced the hire.

Rice was a member of the Runnin' Rebels' 1990 national championship team and spent five seasons coaching at his alma mater before being fired in January after a 9-7 start.

Rice went 98-54 at UNLV and left Las Vegas with the third-most wins in program history. He led the Runnin' Rebels to the NCAA Tournament his first two seasons, but they missed the big bracket the past three seasons.

Rice was a prolific recruiter at UNLV, routinely landing some of the top classes in the nation and should provide a boost to Eric Musselman's staff.

Nevada finished 24-14 in Musselman's first season in Reno, ending the season on a high note by beating Morehead State to win the College Basketball Invitational championship.

The Wolfpack made news on April 8 by hiring former California assistant Yann Hufnagel, who resigned after being accused of sexually harassing a 24-year-old reporter while coaching the Bears.

Nevada President Marc Johnson released a series of text messages and other documents on April 15 outlining why the university was comfortable hiring Hufnagel despite the accusations.