Report: T.J. Otzelberger headed for Iowa State

[marothisu]

Always an interesting guy on Facebook. I mean, maybe he can be a recruiter? Kind of funny though.

 

[WastedTalent]

Everyone who seems to think TJ was a foregone conclusion - any sources?

I don't doubt he was a top 3 candidate, most likely THE top candidate - but what's to say we didn't reach out to 3-5 other options at the same time? Do you really think it's that far-fetched to think those guys either A) weren't interested, or B) wanted much more than we could afford?

IF this news is true, I'm not convinced we didn't at least reach out to others to at least offer interviews. Hell, it's not even unfathomable that we DID interview a few others - zoom interviews are still a thing, and contrary to popular belief they do happen while guys have other jobs...

Either way - while not super excited about this hire (again, IF true), I'll support him and doubt we have another 0 conference win season.

Most other candidates should still be coaching their teams, and would not give the job much of a thought.

 

[Tailg8er]

When it is plain to see in four years this hire was a failure Pollard will dig in like he did with McDermott. ISU basketball is in a lot of trouble going forward. The start of the TJ era is terrible because, at least on social media, there is a decent split with fans on this. There is basically no middle ground. Several excited, several upset.

Do you regularly see a lot of middle ground posters on social media?!

For the record, count me in that group. I'm not overly excited about this hire, but I can see the possibility of it being a success. Know there are plenty of others just like me who don't feel strongly enough to post it on social media...

 

[rochclone]

I assume the leakers are the UNLV athletic department who are probably pretty pumped!

As am I!

You are coming off as a complete ass during this process. I mean you stated that one could envision that TJ was openly cheering for Iowa State to loss the last five years. I think it will be very difficult for your opinion to be considered objective over the next few years given that you have pretty much already made up your mind. Which is interesting given how upset some were that CSP didn’t get a fair shake?

 

[cycloneworld]

He needs to hire nonflashy people with no connection to Iowa State.

2 of his last 3 hires were Fred Hoiberg and Matt Campbell. I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt. But he’s definitely putting his neck out there for TJ.

Personally, I’ll fully support whoever it is. Especially after this season.

 

[CyLyte2]

And I bet he won’t get that at Iowa state in 5 years. He won’t have mike daum.

You are a betting man.

 

[RonBurgundy]

He used nepotism completely correctly. Like textbook definition correctly.

Umm, no. I believe the word you seek is cronysim.

 

[Hayes30]

I don’t give a ****.

I don't give a **** that you don't give a ****.

 

[Clonefan32]

I hope TJ succeeds beyond our wildest dreams, I’ll be cheering him on - but it doesn’t help him in any way to have the aura of a corrupt process for hiring him hanging over his head before he even starts. He has to succeed or JP is going to really regret this process.

But you are assuming this search didn't start until Prohm was let go. It was pretty obvious a change was needed back in January. I'd expect that Pollard was conducting the search over the past few months. He's really good at keeping that under the radar.

I get it but the optics are bad. They’ve kept a close relationship and it looks like the deal was done before the firing was official. Maybe this is the result of a detailed search, who knows. And maybe JP does truly believe TJ is the right guy. And heck, maybe he is.

Also to be clear “corrupt” isn’t at all what I said. He has the discretion to hire whomever he wants. I’m not suggesting anything nefarious, all I’m saying is it’s well documented they’ve remains close friends and it appears to have been a very quick turnaround.

But I guess with this report coming out so quickly it doesn’t really do much to make one think it was an exhaustive search, which leads to disappointment.

Like I said I’d be glad to be wrong a few years from now and I hope for the best. Could be the beginning of a long and successful hire. But we are in a bad place and need someone to get this righted quickly and that isn’t something we’ve seen TJ do.

 

[Cyched]

Umm, no. I believe the word you seek is cronysim.

Definition of NEPOTISM

favoritism (as in appointment to a job) based on kinship… See the full definition

www.merriam-webster.com

 

[Rabbuk]

Umm, no. I believe the word you seek is cronysim.

It can and is both

 

[marothisu]

He used nepotism completely correctly. Like textbook definition correctly.

It's kind of shocking that people think nepotism only is about family. In any case, you could call it some stupid name like "dongling" for all I care. The point still stands - favoring your friends without giving anybody else a fair shot is low.

I really hope if they hired TJ this fast that there were other candidates actually interviewed. If not then JP especially in 2021 is going to have to eventually answer to some sort of ethics committee. I'm sure he's aware though, and we're probably all reading too much in between the lines. But what would the internet be without that?

 

[Stangguy]

So much for not sacrificing our integrity.

 

[rochclone]

If true, this is Pollard’s worst hire as AD. UNLV beat Air Force 3 times, New Mexico twice, and San Jose State twice—-those 3 teams combined to win 16 total games this year. Two of UNLV’s other wins were against Benedictine Mesa College and St. Katherine; both of which are NAIA schools.

Edit: 1 win this year against teams with a winning record. I really hope this report is false.

Was that one win against the great X’s and O’s of Craig Smith?

 

[CyLyte2]

It’s not like we fired the coach of a bubble team. Steve Prohm was 100% deserving of being fired. By any program in the country. That the boss had the replacement lined up immediately doesn’t look bad in any way.

 

[awd4cy]

2 of his last 3 hires were Fred Hoiberg and Matt Campbell. I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt. But he’s definitely putting his neck out there for TJ.

Personally, I’ll fully support whoever it is. Especially after this season.

Unfortunately he also hired Greg McDermott, Gene Chizik, Paul Rhoads, and Steve Prohm. 2/4 hopefully not soon to be 2/5.

 

[MartyFine]

It's kind of shocking that people think nepotism only is about family. In any case, you could call it some stupid name like "dongling" for all I care.

I really hope if they hired TJ this fast that there were other candidates actually interviewed. If not then JP especially in 2021 is going to have to eventually answer to some sort of ethics committee. I'm sure he's aware though, and we're probably all reading too much in between the lines. But what would the internet be without that?

Has JP ever conducted a coaching search in public in his entire time at ISU?

 

[jsb]

You are coming off as a complete ass during this process. I mean you stated that one could envision that TJ was openly cheering for Iowa State to loss the last five years. I think it will be very difficult for your opinion to be considered objective over the next few years given that you have pretty much already made up your mind. Which is interesting given how upset some were that CSP didn’t get a fair shake?

If you can’t beat the ********, join them. It’s more fun to be a judgemental person on here. As you know!

 

[Tailg8er]

They aren’t denying it.

Well, they kind of did with Pollard's video 9 hours ago...

 

[madguy30]

Can put one thing to rest tonight?

From the googles:

nep·o·tism:

noun

1. the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.