Ex-Rutgers coach Mike Rice gets interim post with The Patrick School

Former Rutgers coach Mike Rice, who was fired in 2013 after a videotape aired showing him shoving, grabbing and throwing balls at players and using gay slurs during practice, has been named interim head coach at The Patrick School in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Rice, who hasn't held a head-coaching position since he was dismissed by the Scarlet Knights after the videotape aired on ESPN's Outside the Lines, will coach the high school team in December while coach Chris Chavannes attends to his duties as the school's principal, NJ.com reported.

"I think Mike could use a program such as one with our profile level to help get himself back out there," Chavannes told NJ.com. "And I think for the program, it's a good situation for me to take some time off and the players maintain that certain level that they've had. It's just a nice transition."

After this month, Rice will remain with the team as a special assistant to Chavannes.

"I'm excited and thankful for the opportunity," Rice told NJ.com in a text message Sunday afternoon. "Whatever I can do to help the Patrick School student-athletes and Chris, I will."

Rice coached at Robert Morris for three seasons before landing at Rutgers before the 2010-11 season. In his six seasons as a college head coach, Rice compiled a 117-82 mark.

In the Rutgers video, Rice -- in addition to using gay slurs -- was seen hurling a basketball at players' heads, backs and feet during practice, grabbing players by the scruff of their practice jerseys, and shoving others in the chest or forcibly moving them into position.

The Patrick School released a statement Sunday saying Rice has attended "an extensive anger management program" as well as a workshop that focuses "on LGBT issues that high school students face."

Chavannes said Rice hopes to again coach at the college level.

"He's very energetic, very enthusiastic, very passionate, and he has a ton of knowledge of the game," Chavannes told NJ.com. "When he first came in, he was very open with the kids about what transpired at Rutgers and what he's done and continues to do to recover from that. It's not something he hides from, and he's very open about it."