Big 12 Basketball: Ranking all 14 head coaches in 2023 after realignment

By Joey Loose | Apr 6, 2023

Mar 29, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Baylor Bears assistant coach Jerome Tang (left) with head coach Scott Drew against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

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Big 12 Basketball Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports /

8. TJ Otzelberger – Iowa State

He’s originally from Wisconsin, but Otzelberger has sure shined in Iowa in recent years. He was a longtime assistant with the Cyclones before starting his head coaching career at South Dakota State in 2016. After taking those Jackrabbits to two Summit League titles and two NCAA Tournaments, he had a low-key tenure at UNLV before bolting back to Iowa State in 2021.

Otzelberger’s time leading the Cyclones has been successful, especially considering how his teams have exceeded expectations. In his initial season, he took an 11-seed to the Sweet Sixteen and won 22 games after being expected to finish near or at the bottom of the league. This past season was more of the same, with the Cyclones ranked for a large portion of the season and making the Big Dance again, though they were upset in the opening round this time.

He’s won big in the Summit League and he’s proving early doubters wrong in the Big 12, but what is the future like for Iowa State? Otzelberger has had his hands all over this program in recent years and has them playing winning basketball again two years into his head coaching run. He’s just 7 years into his head coaching career, but it’s hard to be disappointed with what he’s done at these three schools to this point.

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