Victim in deadly crash identified as Sheldon Clark girls’ basketball coach
WYMT has confirmed that the victim in a deadly crash in Martin County is the coach for the Sheldon Clark’s Girls’ Basketball team.
Coach Tim Rice, 59, died in Tuesday morning’s crash.
Original Story
One person is dead after a two-vehicle crash in Martin County.
The crash happened Tuesday morning on New Route 3, near mile marker 3.
We are told an SUV rear-ended a cement truck. The Martin County coroner pronounced the driver of the SUV, Timothy Rice, 59, from Betsy Layne, dead at the scene.
The driver of the cement truck is not hurt. Police do not suspect alcohol or drugs were involved.
Both directions on New Route 3 were closed while crews were on the scene.
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From former All-American Girls basketball player and longtime SCHS coach Robin Harmon Newsome:
“…My heart is heavy on this day for my dear friend Tim Rice. I pray for God to comfort his dear sweet wife and children. Prayers also for Sheldon Clark High School, faculty, student body and his Lady Cards basketball family.
I always called him Big Tim. The reason I called him this was because of his big heart. I helped interview Tim for the Lady Cards Basketball job 6 years ago in May of 2013. He got the job and became part of our basketball coaching family. Tim was thrilled to get the opportunity to be back home full-time to be with his family. His hometown was in Floyd County. He was so honored to be named the head coach of a program with such a great tradition and rich history. I had the honor and pleasure of working with Tim as the AD until I retired in 2017. Tim also coached my daughter Boo. Tim was a man of few words, but when he spoke he was a man full of wisdom.
He was a pleasure to work with and was always willing to help me and the students in anyway he could. His knowledge of the game of basketball was astonishing. He was the real deal. We would sit and talk about the game and share stories of the good old days when we played and the many teams we had coached over the years. I would often be in my office and Tim would stop by to share situations and strategies about upcoming opponents and ask my opinion. I usually ended up learning more from him than he did me in these conservations.
Tim was a mighty man with a big heart. He was a fierce competitor and he hated to lose. The thing I will remember the most is all the times Tim made us laugh with some of the stories he would tell. Anyone that ever met Tim or knew him could tell right off that he was a family man and his family was the pride and joy of his life. Before I retired I watched my friend struggle with health problems that almost took his life and there were many days that he did not feel like putting in the long hours that is required of a teacher and coach, but Tim was a fighter. He endured and fought back and continued to lead his Lady Cards Basketball Team. I was honored to know Tim Rice and have the opportunity to call him a friend and for him to be on my team. My prayers and thoughts are with his family and friends. There will never be another Big Tim Rice. He was one of a kind. You will be missed my friend. Go rest high Big Tim.”
