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

ByJason 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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RENO, NV – DECEMBER 15: Head coach T.J. Otzelberger of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits watches players on the court during the game between the Nevada Wolf Pack and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Lawlor Events Center on December 15, 2018 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images)
RENO, NV – DECEMBER 15: Head coach T.J. Otzelberger of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits watches players on the court during the game between the Nevada Wolf Pack and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Lawlor Events Center on December 15, 2018 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images)

Otzelberger will find success at UNLV based on his track record

Why will Otzelberger be successful at UNLV? First, he has years of experience recruiting at the power-5 level, so claims that he wouldn’t be able to get players to UNLV are unfounded. As I said earlier, he has been very successful in his three seasons and no matter what league you play in, winning 52 games in two seasons is nothing to sneeze at, even if you have no idea who the coach is.

One thing Runnin’ Rebels fans will like, once they get over the sadness and realization that Miller won’t be their coach, is that Otzelberger likes to play a style that fans and players will like. In his seasons as the Jackrabbits’ coach, his teams averaged nearly 82 points per game and he is a big fan of the three-pointer. Since his time as the head man, SDSU has averaged at least nine threes per game, and have shot over 40% from beyond the arc. This past season, their 40.8% three-point percentage was third-best in the country and their 50.1% field goal percentage was also the third best.

So, while fans may not like the hire of Otzelberger because they don’t know who he is, that’s fine, they can stay home and the Thomas & Mack Center will once again fill up when people see him turning the program around. Maybe that will be exciting enough for people to get their butts into seats again.