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T. J. Otzelberger

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T. J. Otzelberger
Otzelberger in 2013
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamIowa State
ConferenceBig 12
Record70–35 (.667)
Annual salary$2.5 million
Biographical details
Born (1977-09-17) September 17, 1977 (age 47)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Playing career
1998–2001Wisconsin–Whitewater
Position(s)Point guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2001–2004Burlington Catholic Central HS
2004–2005Chipola College (assistant)
2006–2010Iowa State (assistant)
2010–2013Iowa State (associate HC)
2013–2015Washington (assistant)
2015–2016Iowa State (assistant)
2016–2019South Dakota State
2019–2021UNLV
2021–presentIowa State
Head coaching record
Overall169–98 (.633)
Tournaments4–5 (NCAA Division I)
0–1 (NIT)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 Summit League tournament (2017, 2018)
2 Summit League regular season (2018, 2019)
Big 12 tournament (2024)
Awards
Summit League Coach of the Year (2018)

Thomas John Otzelberger (born September 17, 1977) is an American college basketball coach who is currently the head coach at Iowa State University.

Early life

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Otzelberger[1] was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Thomas L. and Jackie A. Otzelberger. He attended Thomas More High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was a three-year starter on the varsity basketball team.[2] He played college basketball at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and was team captain for two years.[2]

Personal life

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On June 1, 2013, he married Alison Lacey,[1][3] former ISU women's basketball standout, former WNBA player,[4] and former coach[5] of the Marshalltown Community College women's basketball team. They have three children.

Community service

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Otzelberger is openly passionate about teaching young people and was actively involved in the National Association of Basketball Coaches "Stay in to Win" program.[6] This program was set up to help students focus on making important decisions in order to become more successful in school and impact their overall quality of life. Otzelberger is also highly involved with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He is also a member of the Villa 7 Consortium, which aims to develop the nation's top assistant coaches.

Coaching career

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Early coaching career

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From 2001 to 2004 Otzelberger served as a basketball coach at Burlington Catholic Central High School in Burlington, Wisconsin.[7] He was promoted to varsity head coach and athletic director in 2003.[8] For the 2004-2005 season, he moved to Marianna, Florida, to join the Chipola College staff as an assistant coach.[2] In that season, the Indians finished 33-4, won the Panhandle Conference and placed third[9] at the 2005 NJCAA national tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Iowa State (assistant)

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Otzelberger served on the Cyclones' coaching staff for eight seasons. He initially joined the Iowa State coaching staff under former Iowa State head coach Greg McDermott in 2006,[10] and served under him as an assistant through the 2009-2010 season. When McDermott was succeeded by Fred Hoiberg in May 2010, Otzelberger was promoted to the position of associate head coach.[11][12]

In 2011-2012, Hoiberg led Iowa State to a 23-11 overall record and a third-place finish in the Big 12 Conference,[13] advancing to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005.[14] The Cyclones defeated reigning national champion Connecticut[15] in third round tourney action, before falling to eventual national champion Kentucky. In 2012-2013, the Cyclones finished 4th in the Big 12 Conference[16] while advancing to the third round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Ohio State on a buzzer beater.[17] During this stretch, the Cyclones were among the nation's leading teams in scoring, returning the team to national prominence.

Otzelberger has been widely regarded as one of the top recruiters in the nation. His efforts have helped secure the services of Cyclone greats Mike Taylor, Craig Brackins, Diante Garrett, Scott Christopherson, Chris Babb, Chris Allen, Will Clyburn, Korie Lucious, Melvin Ejim, Georges Niang, Naz Long, and Matt Thomas, among others. In addition to recruiting, Otzelberger was in charge of opponent scouting and game planning for the Cyclones tournament run in 2012 and 2013.

In April 2015, Otzelberger returned as an assistant coach for Iowa State after leaving Washington.

Washington

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On May 7, 2013, Washington Huskies head coach Lorenzo Romar announced that Otzelberger had joined his staff as an assistant coach. NBC Sports called Coach Otzelberger's hiring at Washington as one of the top 10 key assistant coaching hires for the 2013-14 season.[18] Following the 2014 season, Jay Bilas and Jeff Goodman ranked TJ as one of the top college head coaching candidates.[19] On April 1, 2015, it was announced that Otzelberger was returning to Iowa State to replace Matt Abdelmassih.[20]

South Dakota State

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On April 14, 2016, Otzelberger was named head coach of South Dakota State, replacing Scott Nagy, who left after 21 years to become the head coach at Wright State.[21] In his first season as head coach, Otzelberger led the Jackrabbits to the Summit League tournament championship and an automatic berth into the NCAA tournament, losing in the first round to eventual tournament runner-up Gonzaga. On March 6, 2018, Otzelberger led the Jackrabbits back to the NCAA Tournament, their third straight trip to the Big Dance, with a 97–87 win over the University of South Dakota.

UNLV

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On March 27, 2019, the UNLV Runnin' Rebels announced Otzelberger would become their 13th head coach.[22]

On February 22, 2020, Otzelberger and the Runnin' Rebels defeated #4 San Diego State University, handing SDSU their first loss of the season.

Iowa State (head coach)

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On March 18, 2021, Otzelberger was hired at Iowa State, replacing Steve Prohm who was fired after winning just two games in a COVID shortened season.[23] Otzelberger won his 100th career game on November 9, 2021, in an 84-73 victory over Kansas State. Otzelberger accomplished the nation's largest turnaround in his first year at the helm at Iowa State, winning 22 games and making the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament.[24]

Head coaching record

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College

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
South Dakota State Jackrabbits (Summit League) (2016–2019)
2016–17 South Dakota State 18–17 8–8 T–4th NCAA Division I Round of 64
2017–18 South Dakota State 28–7 13–1 1st NCAA Division I Round of 64
2018–19 South Dakota State 24–9 14–2 1st NIT First Round
South Dakota State: 70–33 (.680) 35–11 (.761)
UNLV Runnin' Rebels (Mountain West Conference) (2019–2021)
2019–20 UNLV 17–15 12–6 T–2nd
2020–21 UNLV 12–15 8–10 7th
UNLV: 29–30 (.492) 20–16 (.556)
Iowa State Cyclones (Big 12 Conference) (2021–present)
2021–22 Iowa State 22–13 7–11 T–6th NCAA Division I Sweet 16
2022–23 Iowa State 19–14 9–9 T–5th NCAA Division I Round of 64
2023–24 Iowa State 29–8 13–5 2nd NCAA Division I Sweet 16
2024–25 Iowa State 5-1 0-0
Iowa State: 75–36 (.676) 29–25 (.537)
Total: 174–99 (.637)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

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  1. ^ a b "Otzelberger". tjotzelberger.com. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "TJ Otzelberger Bio". gohuskies.com. May 7, 2013. Archived from the original on June 17, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  3. ^ "Alison Lacey Bio". cyclones.com. August 28, 2006. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  4. ^ Evans, Jayda (April 8, 2010). "Storm selects Iowa State point guard Alison Lacey in WNBA draft". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  5. ^ "Marshalltown Community College Tiger Athletics". iavalley.edu. Archived from the original on June 22, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  6. ^ "Cyclones Help Promote NABC "Stay in to Win" Program". Cyclones.com. September 10, 2012. Archived from the original on February 20, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  7. ^ Kabelowsky, Art (April 30, 2010). "Iowa State in the Air". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  8. ^ Feldman, Mark (July 22, 2003). "Otzelberger Brings New Life to Hilltoppers". Racine Journal Times. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  9. ^ "Chipola College". Hoopedia. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  10. ^ "Greg McDermott Introduces Three Members of New Staff". CBS College Sports. April 3, 2006. Archived from the original on June 15, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  11. ^ "Iowa State Hires Former Player Hoiberg as Coach". ESPN. April 28, 2010. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  12. ^ Sandell, Nate (April 28, 2010). "Otzelberger to Remain Associate Head Coach". Iowa State Daily. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  13. ^ "2011-12 Big 12 Conference Men's Basketball Standings". Big 12 Conference. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  14. ^ Meredith, Luke (March 12, 2013). "Iowa State earns 1st NCAA bid since 2005". Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  15. ^ Tucker, Kyle (March 16, 2012). "Iowa State hopes to surprise Kentucky basketballt". Louisville Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  16. ^ "2012-13 Big 12 Conference Men's Basketball Standings". Big 12 Conference. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  17. ^ Schonbrun, Zach (March 24, 2013). "Ohio State Survives on a Buzzer-Beater Out of a Child's Daydream". New York Times. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  18. ^ Phillips, Scott (October 11, 2013). "2013-14 Season Preview: 10 key assistant coaching hires". Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  19. ^ Bilas, Jay (May 21, 2014). "Top college head coach candidates". Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  20. ^ "T.J. Otzelberger to replace Matt Abdelmassih on ISU staff". The Des Moines Register. April 1, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  21. ^ "Meet Coach Otz: Jacks introduce new men's basketball coach". argusleader.com.
  22. ^ "T.J. Otzelberger Named New Men's Basketball Head Coach". unlvrebels.com. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  23. ^ "New Iowa State basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger plans to retain some Iowa State staffers". DesMoinesRegister.com.
  24. ^ "'It's crazy': Iowa St. Goes from 2-22 to Sweet 16". 21 March 2022.
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