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Next in Line: T.J. Otzelberger Logical Successor at Iowa State

By Daniel Tran

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With head coach Fred Hoiberg and the Chicago Bulls seemingly marching towards a lucrative marriage, Iowa State won’t be in dire straits with T.J. Otzelberger waiting in the wings.

Almost immediately after it was announced that the Chicago Bulls had fired head coach Tom Thibodeau, Fred Hoiberg was tabbed as the next head coach. In the proceeding days since, there have been endless reports of gentlemen’s agreements, back alley whispers, and rumors that point to the Bulls securing Hoiberg’s services, making the situation seem like more of a waiting game than a legitimate exploration of other candidates.

With Hoiberg’s exit out of Ames seemingly inevitable, the Iowa State Cyclones may want to begin looking for coaches to replace him. However, their search for their next head coach if(/when) Hoiberg leaves may be just as quick as the Bulls’ when they pursued Hoiberg.

Quietly waiting for this whole situation to play out is Iowa State assistant coach T.J. Otzelberger who may be next in line to take the head coaching job if Hoiberg leaves for the NBA. Casual fans may not be aware of the unassuming assistant from Milwaukee, but those within college basketball circles are well aware of what he can bring.

While he was an assistant on Hoiberg’s and Greg McDermott’s staff, Otzelberger began building a reputation that would lead him to being one of the top assistant coaches in the entire nation. His work on the recruiting trail especially gained him notoriety when he was able to secure commitments from players like Craig Brackins, Matt Thomas, Diante Garrett, Georges Niang, Scott Christopherson, Will Clyburn, Chris Allen, Korie Lucious, Melvin Ejim, Naz Long, and Chris Babb.  That kind of familiarity should keep this years team rolling along, and secure future recruits in the process.

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After being promoted to associate head coach by Hoiberg in 2010, Otzelberger was also responsible for game planning and opponent scouting during the NCAA Tournament in 2012 and 2013. Both times, the Cyclones were able to advance to the round of 32.

In 2013, Otzelberger was brought in by Lorenzo Romar to help his staff out at the University of Washington. His work netted Washington four four-star recruits and three three-star recruits for the schools Class of 2015.

After being hired back to Iowa State in April of 2015, it only seems appropriate that T.J. Otzelberger gets an opportunity to be a head coach where he began his journey in Division I hoops. Iowa State does not seem to be opposed the idea based on reports that the athletic director fully supports him.

Otzelberger may have a lot to live up to following Fred “the Mayor” Hoiberg, but his contributions in the past have been important to Iowa State’s ascension to being one of college basketball’s finer programs. Don’t be surprised if he is the university’s next basketball head coach.

Next: Fred Hoiberg: Time to Worry for Iowa State

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