By admin 
A city coaching legend has decided to call it a day.
John Rice, a longtime Burke and Fenway girls basketball player, announced his retirement after a stellar 35-year career. He posted a 474–164 record, winning twenty Boston City League titles, three state championships, a berth in the state finals and four appearances in the state semifinals.
“You’re always thinking about when it’s the right time,” Rice said. “I don’t know if this is ever the right time, but I think this is a good time for me.”
A star basketball player at Boston State/UMass-Boston, Rice finished his career with 1,718 points and 450 assists, averaging 17 points and 4.5 assists in 101 games, while possessing a career field goal percentage of .473 (632-1334) . As a junior, Rice was ranked 17th in the nation, averaging 22.1 points per game for Boston State and earning All-MASCAC honors for the second time.
He is the only men’s basketball player in program history to have his jersey retired and still holds single-season records for free throws made (153) and free throw attempts (215). Following his collegiate career, Rice was drafted in the ninth round by the Boston Celtics of the NBA.