Report: T.J. Otzelberger headed for Iowa State

[DSM4Cy]

How much of it was talent winning in spite of bad coaching? 2019 sticks out as a good example of this, not to mention we weren't all that good last year with a lottery pick on the team

The 2019 team was 19-6. And then something big happened (would love to know full story), disaster down the stretch, pulled it together in KC, then basically quit in the tourney vs. Ohio State...if we only knew what it was. Steve was so close to having real success with HIS guys but then it tanked. Hard.

 

[Peter]

ISU is never going to have a home run hire. There will always be doubts about any incoming coach. TJ knows the program and how to recruit to ISU. Considering that basically no one has been successful at UNLV since Lon Krueger I don’t think it’s a completely accurate gage of his coaching abilities. I expect some growing pains but am optimistic about this hire.

 

[t-noah]

If it ends up him, it ends up him. Can’t believe all the “fans” publicly trashing the man and the program before he has coached a game here. I’m not totally sold on it but I think the best move is to just not say anything going forward and let it play out. It won’t change it and it will just hurt ISU’s image and the program to be a bunch of dicks.

You're probably right.

I was gonna say TJ often looks like he is always yelling at, fidgeting, swinging his arms, micromanaging his players. I hope he calms down a bit and becomes more low key. Am I right or wrong?

But now I won't say that.

 

[daniel22]

I think everyone wants an fresh new name to get excited about, which is the problem. However, unless we got a guy like Matta, Altman, etc there was always going to be some risk. This guy knows the school and most likely will have a plan to get this thing going again. No one on here knew what Matt Campbell was capable of and look at what he did. So maybe we need to stop passing judgement and see what happens the next few years. We got a young coach, who can recruit and wants to be here.

 

[rochclone]

You know this jsb, nearly all will give TJ a chance. If he hires an OVC quality staff and struggles to add anyone, that will change quickly. At least he has the cover of inheriting a 0-18 roster.

JP is a true friend. He helped gut a program to a level in which even the most average coaching friend can succeed. He even told the fans it’s a long rebuild.

Steve Prohm gutted this program. Get it right.

 

[Cyched]

ISU is never going to have a home run hire. There will always be doubts about any incoming coach. TJ knows the program and how to recruit to ISU. Considering that basically no one has been successful at UNLV since Lon Krueger I don’t think it’s a completely accurate gage of his coaching abilities. I expect some growing pains but am optimistic about this hire.

I’m not overly excited about this hire, if true, but I always felt like TJ was a weird fit at UNLV. Might end up being a good thing he was able to cut his teeth at a couple different places before arriving here.

 

[Cycsk]

588 posts . . . all conjecture . . . didn't read . . . can't wait for an article by C-Dubs/Jared/Blum/Alisa.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

I as of tonight agree with you. And if we're being real this isn't the most exciting of hires.

But then I think: what if he is brining a couple ACE assistants with him from unlv who can really coach and recruit, he had two 4 stars committed in the last recruiting cycle (what if they come over to ISU with him), this thing could get turned around quicker than some think.

First two calls for him need to go to Tyrese Hunter and Xavier Foster - that's critical.

I hope to all hopes that in 5 years this thread gets pulled back up and people are quoting me about how stupid I was. I truly hope that’s the case. But there’s just nothing I see that will ever lead me to believe that TJ is the one.

 

[Kurttr]

More coaching experience than Hoiberg had.

So did Prohm. Cmon, be better than that.

TJ may work out but the pedantic replies to legitimate questions re: what makes him the best for the job just prove that it’s a major reach. It may well work, but it’s a reach. Hope it works out. Would be cool if it does.

 

[AlaCyclone]

At least we Iowa Staters are not flapping our gums about the Tennessee Coach coming to Ames!

 

[Cyched]

588 posts . . . all conjecture . . . didn't read . . . can't wait for an article by C-Dubs.

Might be from Jared

 

[DSM4Cy]

I’m not overly excited about this hire, if true, but I always felt like TJ was a weird fit at UNLV. Might end up being a good thing he was able to cut his teeth at a couple different places before arriving here.

TJ could be our Auburn Chizik. Hang the banner folks. 2023 here we come.

 

[ClonesTwenty1]

588 posts . . . all conjecture . . . didn't read . . . can't wait for an article by C-Dubs.

If it’s TJ, C-Dubs article will be...something else...

 

[CrossCyed]

 

[cycloneworld]

LVJ updated their article to include this:

Nothing has been finalized, but two people familiar with the details characterized the coach’s departure as a “done deal,” barring a change at the eleventh hour. Otzelberger and UNLV athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois could not be reached for comment.

Talk about covering your ass...

UNLV coach T.J. Otzelberger headed for Iowa State

UNLV basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger is leaving the program to take the job at Iowa State, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation.

www.reviewjournal.com

 

[cyclone1209]

Might be from Jared

The pressure is on for J-Stanz in this moment, haha. Really would like to hear a pod tomorrow or when possible from the brightest minds of Iowa State fandom.

 

[CYEATHAWK]

You're probably right.

I was gonna say TJ often looks like he is always yelling at, fidgeting, swinging his arms, micromanaging his players. I hope he calms down a bit and becomes more low key. Am I right or wrong?

But now I won't say that.

I imagine the micromanaging comes from hanging around with GMAC a little too much. It certainly wasn't rubbed off from Fred. Don't know about the yelling and fidgeting.

 

[isucy86]

People, People, People!! Take some deep breaths and relax. Who knows if this is a done deal or not. Haven't heard from Jamie and haven't seen it posted by any Iowa media outlets.

That said, hiring a head coach is like the lottery. Long odds to hire the next coach K.

We're just hoping for the $10 ticket and not a loser.

• Look at Indiana. I'm sure their fans were on Cloud Nine when they hired Archie Miller. How did that turn out?
• Did Wisconsin fans think they had a great coach when Greg Gard was hired?
• Same goes for Okie State with Boynton. A guy with no head coaching experience gets them to the dance. They have a great team, beyond Cunningham.

Hell just look at EIU. When Hayden retired their fan base was all about Stoops. Prodigal son comes home. Then some unknown coach from Maine name Kirk Ferentz is hired. 20+ years later they have the most successful coach in their football history. (I know Evy was probably a better coach, but before my time).

Sleep well, the sun will come up tomorrow.

 

[Cyched]

This could also be the ultimate Pollard smokescreen. Phil Jackson will be announced tomorrow

 

[marothisu]

TJ could be our Auburn Chizik. Hang the banner folks. 2023 here we come.

You mean getting a top recruit, winning a national championship, then going 11-14 the next 2 years and getting fired only to be out of a job for a few years and then get hired as an assistant for 2 seasons only to resign and not have a coaching job for the last 3+ years?