By Chris Williams, CycloneFanatic.com Publisher
Keep refreshing this page all night long for the latest on Iowa State’s hiring of Cyclone legend Fred Hoiberg as the next head basketball coach.
11:57 a.m. – Just got done covering the Fred Hoiberg introduction press conference. What an emotional moment. It was like an Ames town hall meeting. I conducted a lot of interviews afterwards and snapped quite a few photos as well. Keep checking out the site for updates.
10:20 a.m. – Per an Iowa State release: “Hoiberg agreed to a five-year contract with a base salary of $800,000.”
10:06 a.m. – I am in the Jacobson Building in Ames. This place is a zoo. It’s Hoiberg mania here in Ames!
Just got word via an Iowa State press release that Jeff Grayer will be a part of Hoiberg’s staff here in Ames, along with T.J. Otzelberger. No titles were given to the coaches in the release. I’m being told that Grayer will more than likely be the director of basketball operations but I don’t know that for sure.
8:23 a.m. – Ready to head to Ames. I can’t believe that one of my childhood heroes is going to be the next head coach at Iowa State. Should be a fun day. Check out CF all day long. We’re going to have this thing completely covered.
1:15 a.m. – Here’s a links compilation of all things Hoiberg. CLICK HERE to check it out. Feel free to add your own links to the list as well.
12:34 a.m. – A good friend just called to ask what I thought about Iowa State’s hiring of Fred Hoiberg. At first, I was completely shocked. I was on 1460 KXNO when I started getting text messages that something might be going down. Then, the announcement came. I didn’t know what to say or think. But then, I started to feel like an 11-year old boy watching The Mayor slay the Jayhawks over and over again. I so hope that he can do that as a head coach. Having T.J. Otzelberger by his side already kick starts Hoiberg’s chance to be successful at Iowa State. Otz is one of the biggest up and coming recruiters in all of America and he’s respected nationally.
I realize that Hoiberg hasn’t ever coached before. But the recruits that I talked to tonight were excited about his NBA experiences. They told me that a guy like him can help them get to the NBA. Interesting stuff. I didn’t think that many of these guys would know who Hoiberg is but they did.
12:25 a.m. – Just recapping what we have learned tonight. All five 2010 commitments have confirmed that they plan on being in Ames next season. Nick Nurse will not be on Fred Hoiberg’s staff. I have no idea what is going on with Jeff Grayer. Hoiberg will be introduced as Iowa State’s next head coach today at 10:30 inside of Iowa State’s Jacobson Building. The event is open to the public. I’m so excited for this that I am going to wear a suit. Yeah, that’s right.
Now Wednesday, April 28
11:56 p.m. – The best quote on this hire I’ve seen is from ESPN’s Jay Bilias via Randy Peterson and the Des Moines Register.
“He understands Iowa State. He has a passion for the university.”
I know that it is a simple quote but that is HUGE in Ames. Absolutely huge. It is a special place and Cyclone coaches need to know that.
11:48 p.m. – I’ve been reading a lot of reaction from non-ISU people in their columns, Twitter etc. I understand why non-Cyclones don’t get this hire. I really do. I just have a good feeling about things tonight though. Everything worked out for Greg McDermott, a man who I will always admire and respect. I truly believe that everything will work out for Iowa State too.
11:09 p.m. – Greg Ohlsen of CycloneSportsReport.com reports that Calvin Godfrey will honor his commitment to Iowa State after hearing the Fred Hoiberg news. This means that Iowa State is five-for-five on keeping commits/signees!
10:57 p.m. – Sean Keeler of the Des Moines Registerwrites an open letter to Iowa State’s new basketball coach, Fred Hoiberg.
10:48 p.m. – Here’s an interesting national take of the Fred Hoiberg news from Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com. CLICK HERE to read his column, where he compares Pollard-Hoiberg to McCain-Palin?
10:03 p.m. – Iowa State players Charles Boozer and Scott Christopherson are excited about the hire. Randy Peterson of the Des Moines Register caught up with the duo earlier. Here’s the LINK.
9:52 p.m. – Calvin Godfrey is the only Iowa State basketball commitment that I haven’t been able to get ahold of tonight. With the news of Fred Hoiberg being hired as the next basketball coach, Iowa State is four out of five in keeping commits/signees. Not to shabby. I’ll keep working on Godfrey as the night goes on.
9:47 p.m. – Iowa State has sent out this official release concerning the Fred Hoiberg news.
AMES, Iowa – It’s official. Fred Hoiberg is Iowa State University’s 19th head men’s basketball coach. He will be introduced at a 10:30 a.m. news conference Wednesday in the Jacobson Athletic Building. Iowa State University President Dr. Gregory Geoffroy, Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard and Hoiberg will attend. Fans are welcome to attend the news conference. Parking is available in lots on the east and west sides of the Jacobson Building. Coverage of the event will also be available live on cyclones.com.
9:24 p.m. – My good friend Randy Peterson of the Des Moines Register just caught up with Dick Vitale and Jay Bilas of ESPN. CLICK HERE to read their reaction of the hire.
9:12 p.m. – 2010 signee DeMarucs Phillips just told me that he will be a Cyclone next season after hearing the Fred Hoiberg news.
“I am really excited knowing that he was a basketball player himself at Iowa State,” Phillips said. “I’m really looking forward to playing under him.”
“100 percent, I am going to be a Cyclone next year,” Phillips said. “I am really excited about playing for him next year.”:
8:58 p.m. – Here’s a cool blog posting by the Des Moines Register’s Sean Keeler. He includes quotes from Jim Hallihan on today’s big news.
8:51 p.m. – I’ve now confirmed through multiple sources that Nick Nurse will not be a part of Fred Hoiberg’s staff at Iowa State.
8:23 p.m. – Princeton Day Academy big man Eric McKnight just told me on the phone that he plans on attending Iowa State next season. He’s already signed his National LOI.
“I’m still coming,” McKnight said. “I was excited when I found out. That’s just an extra ad on to my development and getting better. I look at this as an upgrade kind of. That’s no disrespect to Coach McDermott because he is a great coach. I look at this as an upgrade.”
McKnight went on to say that Hoiberg’s NBA ties are impressive to him. McKnight also said that his relationship with assistant coach T.J. Otzelberger was his main reason for choosing over claimed offers from: Oklahoma State, Indiana, Penn State, Georgetown, Maryland, Minnesota, Auburn, Ole Miss and others.
“And a whole lot more,” McKnight said. “I really can’t remember.”
8:13 p.m. – Here’s a great story. It looks like former Iowa State head coach Larry Eustachy still cares about his old program. According to THIS PIECE, Eustachy made a call to Jamie Pollard to help make the hire.
8:09 p.m. – Just got off the phone with 2010 signee Jordan Railey’s high school coach, Eric Lathen. Lathen was extremely excited when I gave him the news about Fred Hoiberg. He didn’t want to speak on behalf of Jordan but he did say that because T.J. Otzelberger was being retained, there is a very good chance that Jordan will end up at Iowa State anyway.
7:58 p.m. – Charles Boozer seems excited about Iowa State’s new head basketball coach. Here’s what he just posted on his Twitter feed: “Fred hoiberg as our coach is the biggest thing since johnny orr!! All eyes.”
7:39 p.m. – Wow. What a day. Here is what we know. Fred Hoiberg is the next head basketball coach at Iowa State. We also know that assistant coach T.J. Otzleberger will be staying in Ames. I just got off the phone with 2010 signee and New Hampshire Player of the Year Melvin Ejim, who told me that he’s excited about the Hoiberg hire and that he plans on being a Cyclone next season. I’ll be working the phones all night long to keep you as updated as possible during this exciting time. I’ll also be posting opinions that come to my mind all evening long, right here on our CycloneFanatic.com front page.
