A former Iowa State assistant coach, T.J. Otzelberger has found considerable success since becoming head coach in Ames in 2021.
After a dismal 2-22 season — including a winless Big 12 slate — the year prior, Otzelberger instantly flipped the Cyclones’ fortunes. The 47-year-old guided Iowa State to a 22-13 record and NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2022-23.
Strong defenses have defined Iowa State during Otzelberger’s tenure. In his debut campaign, the Cyclones finished fifth in the nation in defensive efficiency, as well as top 25 in forced turnovers and steals. Primed for a fourth straight NCAA tournament bid this season and potentially a deep run, Otzelberger’s work in Ames could make him an attractive candidate at Indiana.
A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Otzelberger played at Wisconsin-Whitewater in the late 1990s, serving as team captain for two seasons. After four years coaching between Burlington Catholic Central High School and Chipola College, Otzelberger accepted a role at Iowa State as an assistant under Greg McDermott in 2006.
Otzelberger served as the lead recruiter and bench coach, and when McDermott left for Creighton in 2010, he was promoted to associate head coach under Fred Hoiberg. With strong recruiting classes, Iowa State became a consistent force in the Big 12. The Cyclones made the NCAA tournament in 2011-12, marking the program’s first appearance since 2005 and advanced to March Madness in each of the next five seasons.
Otzelberger left briefly in 2013, taking a job as an assistant under Lorenzo Romar at Washington, but in 2015, returned to the Cyclones for another year as an assistant.
In 2016, Otzelberger left Iowa State for his first college head coaching job at South Dakota State. He spent three seasons with the Jackrabbits, compiling a 70-33 overall record and a 35-11 mark in Summit League play. He led South Dakota State to a pair of NCAA tournament appearances and two conference regular-season and tournament titles.
Following a successful stint with the Jackrabbits, Otzelberger jumped to UNLV to become the program’s 13th head coach. His time in Las Vegas was relatively underwhelming — he tallied a 29-30 record in two seasons — but the Rebels still finished second in the Mountain West in Otzelberger’s first season.
Then, in 2021, Iowa State decided to replace then-head coach Steve Prohm with Otzelberger, Prohm’s former assistant. In his first three seasons as head coach, Otzelberger’s Cyclones made the NCAA Sweet Sixteen twice. He became the first head coach in school history to appear in multiple Sweet Sixteens, and he’s just the second to make the tournament in his first three seasons.
The Cyclones could be well on their way to more March Madness success.
Iowa State currently ranks No. 9 in the nation at 21-6 and 11-5 in the Big 12. The Cyclones remain one of the top defenses in the country, ranking No. 9 in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.com.
Otzelberger’s ability to recruit — and especially maintain — talent is one aspect that makes him a viable candidate in Bloomington. He’ll undoubtedly be afforded the financial resources necessary to construct a team in his vision, but there are fair questions regarding his desire to leave Iowa State.
Otzelberger spearheaded one of the most dramatic turnarounds in program history and he’s built a team that enters each season with high expectations. His wife was a standout basketball player for the Cyclones, and his days as an assistant make for an emotional tie to the area.
However, if he decides Indiana is a worthwhile job to leave for, it wouldn’t be incredibly taxing for the Hoosiers from a financial perspective. Otzelberger’s contract has been restructured multiple times over the last two years, the first being a two-year extension in 2023 that paid him $3.5 million for the 2025 season.
He inked an extension in December that will keep him under contract through 2031-32 and while those details haven’t been made available, his buyout isn’t as prohibitive as other potential candidates at a reported $4 million.
Plenty of factors could draw Otzelberger to Bloomington, namely the financial backing and the possibility of bringing a storied program back to national contention. Should he choose a change of scenery, Indiana seems like a promising fit.
Still, with the success he’s accumulated in a short time at Iowa State, Otzelberger could decide to stay for the foreseeable future.
(Photo credit: Iowa State Athletics)
Category: Coaching search
Filed to: T.J. Otzelberger
