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UNLV Basketball: Why T.J. Otzelberger is the right man for the head coaching job

By Jason Burgess

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 22: Pyrotechnics shoot from the hands of UNLV Rebels mascot Hey Reb before the team's game against the New Mexico Lobos at the Thomas & Mack Center on January 22, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Rebels defeated the Lobos 74-58. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 22: Pyrotechnics shoot from the hands of UNLV Rebels mascot Hey Reb before the team's game against the New Mexico Lobos at the Thomas & Mack Center on January 22, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Rebels defeated the Lobos 74-58. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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BOISE, ID – MARCH 15: Head coach T.J. Otzelberger of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits reacts in the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID – MARCH 15: Head coach T.J. Otzelberger of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits reacts in the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

He may not be a household name, but the man can coach

Who is the new head coach at UNLV? Otzelberger comes to Vegas after three successful seasons at South Dakota State, where he led the Jackrabbits to three post-season berths, back-to-back Summit League titles in 2016-17 and 17-18 and a spot in the NIT this season. Otzelberger, a native of Milwaukee, began his college coaching career an assistant at Chipola College in 2004.

In 2006 he began his first stint as an assistant at Iowa State under Greg McDermott and Fred Hoiberg until 2013 when he was hired by Lorenzo Romar at Washington to be an assistant on his staff. He would then return to Iowa State for one year, before taking the head job at South Dakota State at the end of the 2016 season.

In three years at SDSU, he finished with a record of 70-33 and 52-16 over the last two seasons with two trips to the Big Dance and the NIT this past season. With a team that has averaged over 81 points per game in that time, he coaches an exciting brand of basketball. Otzelberger gets the gig at UNLV after three successful seasons as a head coach, but that came on the back of 11 seasons as an assistant at the Division I level.