Science Teacher Jon Rice Selected as New Varsity Hockey Coach

Announcement Comes After First Pick to Replace Mike Bartley Declines Job and Nov. 22 Opener Approaches

Evan Dubail, Raider Zone Editor|October 6, 2013

The hockey team celebrates its state championship March 9, 2012 after defeating Sylvania Northview at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. It was Shaker's fourth state title under head coach Mike Bartley, who retired after the season as one of the nation's winningest hockey coaches. — The hockey team celebrates its state championship March 9, 2012 after defeating Sylvania Northview at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. It was Shaker’s fourth state title under head coach Mike Bartley, who retired after the season as one of the nation’s winningest hockey coaches.

Science teacher Jon Rice, a six-year varsity assistant under former head hockey coach Mike Bartley, is the new head coach of the defending state champion Raiders.

The announcement came five days after former University School JV coach Michael Berg, who had been working with the team, declined the job due to work obligations.

Replacing Bartley is a daunting task; the former coach holds four state titles and is the winningest high school hockey coach in Ohio history.

Rice is nevertheless excited about the opportunity. “I am honored to serve as the head coach for the Shaker Heights varsity team. The team has such a great history and tradition. I was excited to be a part of the team as an assistant coach and I am humbled to lead the team as the head coach,” he said.

The first-time head coach praised his mentor. “It is hard to picture Shaker Heights hockey without Coach Bartley on the bench. There are very few hockey players in Shaker who have not been on ice learning the game from him either at one of his hockey clinics, on the mighty mites team or on the high school team,” Rice said.

Rice even cited Bartley’s impact on his own growth as a hockey player. “I even took a hockey skating clinic led by Coach [Bartley] when I started out playing the game. I have learned so much from Coach Bartley about the game and coaching while an assistant coach,” he said, adding, “We won’t have Coach Bartley this year, but we will have Shaker Raider hockey.”

Bartley’s career began in 1976, and in 2013, it concluded with an historic season in which his teams tallied their 1000th game and fourth state title. Bartley’s career record is 640-346-36.

The former head coach will continue to teach physical education at Woodbury Elementary School.

Senior Ryan LaMonica is pleased and relieved that a member of the Shaker program was chosen. “I’m very happy with Don’s [Readance] choice to stick with a coach already in the program . . . He’s very aware of the routine Bartley ran last year, and I would much rather stick with what we know works than get a new coach who uses a completely different style,” LaMonica said.

Robert McMahon, along with Shaker alumni Keith Abood (’79) and Carson Strang (’01), will fill the assistant coach positions.