After being away from Durham, N.C., for six years, Lauren Rice came back to her alma mater in 2006 and enters her eighth season on the Duke women’s basketball staff as the video coordinator.

Rice is responsible for alumni relations, film exchange, scouting, game film breakdown, player development videos, and the production of the team highlight video as well as video production for www.GoDuke.com. Rice continues to spearhead the True Blue Golf Classic, now in its sixth year. All funds raised in the tournament go to support the Duke women’s basketball program.

Rice, a 2000 graduate of Duke with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and history, was a four-year letterwinner and member of Duke’s first Final Four team in 1999 and first ACC Championship squad in 2000.

A letterwinner at Duke University from 1997-2000, Rice appeared in 126 contests and as a senior started 32 of 34 games, while averaging 9.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 steals. She was named to the All-ACC Tournament first team in 2000 and to the ACC Honor Roll in 1998-99.

Prior to her arrival at Duke in 2006, Rice was an assistant coach at the University of South Alabama in 2000-01. Rice then entered the energy field where she served as an Energy Analyst for Prenova, Inc. from 2001-03. During that time, Rice stayed involved with basketball by officiating girl’s and boy’s junior and senior high basketball games in Atlanta. In 2003, she moved to Pittsburgh and worked as Team Leader for the Customer Relations Department at Strategic Energy. Rice was promoted to Customer Relations Manager in 2005 and served in that capacity until her return to Durham in 2006.

Originally from Peru, Ind., Rice resides in Durham, N.C.

Up Close with Rice

My favorite part of a game day is … When the team runs out and they announce “HERE COMES DUKE!” and then the band starts playing.

Growing up, my favorite cartoon was … Gummi Bears: “Bouncing here and there and everywhere!”

What three words best describe you? ... Persistent, passionate and loyal.

My favorite thing about the Duke campus is… The Duke Gardens in the spring. It is so hard to pick just one piece of Duke, but I do love them. They are definitely a “must see” for anyone that hasn’t seen how beautiful the Duke Gardens are in full bloom.  

Who has had the most influence in your life? ... My family has had a huge influence on my life, but probably the most impact has been seeing my nephew, Alex, grow up.  He has a rare blood disorder and has many handicaps as a result.  Alex amazes me because he always dreams of doing big and great things and doesn’t let his handicaps hold him back.

What is your favorite way to relax and get away from everything? ... I enjoy taking my pontoon boat out on Jordan Lake.  I put down the anchor and read or take a nice, long nap on the water!

My advice to youngsters is? ... Work hard and have fun.

My favorite trip that I have taken has been … A road trip from Pittsburgh to Columbus to Indianapolis that I took many years ago with a few of my teammates after we graduated. It was one road trip I will NEVER forget.

One location I still want to visit is … Bermuda.

My favorite kind of ice cream is … Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.