T.J. Otzelberger made it clear why he chose to return to Ames in April: He and his wife, Alison, wanted to raise their twins, Jayce and Olivia, here.
Well, Fred Hoiberg obviously left to pursue his dream job with the Chicago Bulls and Otzelberger’s status was thrust into limbo.
It’s reportedly uncertain no more, though.
Jon Rothstein of CBSSports.com reported Sunday night that, according to a source, Otzelberger will be retained on Steve Prohm’s first ISU staff.
Rothstein’s Tweet: "Iowa State’s Steve Prohm will retain T.J. Otzelberger and hire Loyola’s (Chicago) Daniyal Robinson as an assistant, source told @CBSSports."
Rothstein also Tweeted that the Cyclones’ Director of Basketball Operations, Micah Byars, is expected to remain with the program as well.
Daniyal Robinson — who worked with Otzelberger at ISU during the Greg McDermott years — is a name that’s been tossed around lately too. So that’s not a surprise, either.
But the big (if fully expected) reported news about Otzelberger is the obvious headline here.
Keeping him on board made perfect sense. He was the lead recruiter on several high-level Cyclones past and present, including Georges Niang and Naz Long. He knows them, they know him. The degree of comfort and continuity he can offer to the core of the 2015-16 team is significant.
One last note: While none of this is "official," of course, Prohm is expected to take part in tomorrow’s summer Big 12 coaches teleconference.
Cyclone Fanatic will report on the teleconference shortly after its conclusion.
