Andy Toole, one of three first-year assistant coaches at Robert Morris last season, has been promoted to associate head coach.

Head coach Mike Rice said yesterday Toole, 27, had other job offers, including an assistant coaching position at Penn, his alma mater, but decided to stay at Robert Morris.

"Penn is certainly a tremendous program," Rice said.

"Andy was loyal to me in staying, and he should be recognized for that.

"He's the person I kind of lean on the most as far as recruiting and the basketball X's and O's. He's going to be a Division I head coach in college basketball three years down the line, seven years down the line, I don't know, as are the other members of my staff."

Rice, who also was in his first year at Robert Morris last season, has Jimmy Martelli and Levi Franklin as assistants.

"One of the things that's so underrated in college basketball is coaching staffs -- who the assistants are and how good they are," Rice said.

"People don't really understand. Head coaches get a lot of publicity, but my assistants have done just a tremendous job."

Rice and his staff last season produced a program-record 26 victories en route to winning the Northeast Conference regular-season championship.

Rice was named NEC coach of the year. He has four years left on his original contract and it's possible another year or two could be added.

The Colonials lost seniors Tony Lee, A.J. Jackson and Freddie Harris from that 26-8 team, but Rice feels good about his returning team.

"We'll probably be picked second, third or fourth in the league," he said.

One underclassman also won't return next season. Bas Rozendaal, a 7-foot sophomore from Holland, will transfer, probably to a Division II program, which would mean he wouldn't have to sit out a season.

"He's certainly talented enough to play at a high-level Division II school," Rice said.

Rozendaal was redshirted during the 2006-07 season, then played sparingly last season, playing in only 10 games.

He averaged 4.0 minutes and 1.3 points per game.

"It was kind of a mutual decision," Rice said of Rozendaal's decision to leave Robert Morris.