Really good article. Because there's so much discussion of how hard the team works, how tough practices are, and how regimented everything is, plus TJ's focused demeanor, I think fans of other teams (and maybe some Iowa State fans) don't realize the non-basketball human aspect of him. I think the article did a good job of capturing that.
Yes, Otz is the kind of guy that demands toughness, uniformity, and a strict schedule from his team. But he's also the kind of guy who sends handwritten notes to anyone he meets, cares about his players outside of basketball, and, from my understanding, pretty much anyone who meets him likes him immediately. In some ways, it's the best of both worlds in the stereotype of an old-school drill sergeant-esque coach who regiments everything and the stereotype of a new-school coach who focuses on relationships before basketball.
Yes, Otz is the kind of guy that demands toughness, uniformity, and a strict schedule from his team. But he's also the kind of guy who sends handwritten notes to anyone he meets, cares about his players outside of basketball, and, from my understanding, pretty much anyone who meets him likes him immediately. In some ways, it's the best of both worlds in the stereotype of an old-school drill sergeant-esque coach who regiments everything and the stereotype of a new-school coach who focuses on relationships before basketball.
