TJ will be the next head coach, all points towards it.

[Leidang]

I'll be really disappointed if it is Otz. Not only will it be proof of the past two month dog and pony show to setup the Fred exit and TJ entry but when you replace a coach it should be about getting the absolute best coach you can. You should not concentrate on easing transition or mortgaging the future for next year, get the best coach possible. 5 years ago that was Fred due to the low ebb of our program and his connection to the university, which is unique in the basketball world. It sold hope to the fanbase and we happened to luck out that Fred was a darn good coach.

This time around TJ should not be the best option. There are plenty of established coaches out there that we should be able to get with the current players and the slightly raised profile of ISU, as well as our improved financials. If we just go the quick route to get TJ it may work out or it may not but it will not be getting the best coach we can.

Stated Reasons to Hire TJ:

Continuity - I do not understand this argument. TJ has been gone for 2 years. Sure he recruited some of our current players or participated in their recruitment but he hasn't been involved in their development, day to day practice, or game planning for the last 2 years. Instead he has been doing these things for a bad Washington Team. If continuity is the most important thing why not Mann or other assistants that were here.

Great Recruiter - I did some digging the other day that I posted in the TJ Bio thread. While TJ has brought many of our better players to Ames that could be said of every team's lead recruiter. On our current roster TJ was lead recruiter for Naz and Matt. Good players but not Georges (Recruited directly by Hoiberg) or Monte (Recruited by Mann). In his 7 years at ISU TJ brought in one 5 star (Brackins) and three 4 stars (Colvin, Thomas, and Noskowiak) he also brought in some 3 stars that ended up being great (Ejim, Garrett). Although I would say this puts him in the good recruiter category I don't think it puts him in the great category. I think he is a hard worker on the recruiting trail but not exceptional in his ability to close the deal.

Learned from Fred - Others have said it but he learned from McDremott and Romar too. He has been a part of 7 bad to average teams and 2 good teams. You can't give him props for the 2 without also giving some credit for the 7.

He loves Ames - He and Aus are definitely fan favorites and the endless articles and tailgate tour have worked hard to sell this angle. But I would just say we are in the process of seeing how that works out with someone with a lot more ties to the university and Ames. This is not something that should be a major consideration because at the end of the day it is a business and people will leave.

Everyone says he is an assistant that deserves a head coaching job - Yet he has looked and not been hired. I hope he gets a shot one day but I don't think ISU, today, should be it.

He and Jaime are friends - Yep.

Jaime is familiar with him - Yep.

 

[IcSyU]

Almost anyone that has won big or consistantly at the mid-low major level. Get someone that has shown they can coach, and keep TJ on as an assistant. A couple months ago the guy was HOPING for the Northern Kentucky and Wisconsin-Green Bay jobs, and it was no guarantee he would get either of them...but now many people seem to think that outside of Hornacek he is the best option we have? Because he knows the players, plays uptempo, and loves Ames?

Remember how our last mid-major worked out? I don't care so much if someone can coach. You can develop as a coach. We need as many guys on staff as possible who can recruit because if you don't have the horses I don't care how well you coach.

Cyclone fans, for being a program with a single Sweet 16 this decade and a devastating tournament loss to end the season, are a really entitled bunch. We won the Big 12 tournament twice as highlights of Fred's tenure and you'd think we were a blue blood now.

 

[HoopsTournament]

So otz, the guy who everyone said was qualified for the uw green bay job is going to be isu's next coach? That's depressing. At least he's familiar with our style off play but if he doesn't work out jp will be out soon after.

That is only opinion. It is not fact that TJ is the next coach. Assumptions and opinions do not make something a fact. Why don't you let this play out instead of getting depressed over other people's opinions.

 

[isucy86]

I don't know what Noskowiak's personal life has anything to do with his but regarding me saying that TJ would be head coach, I said he'd be on staff. New head coaches generally pick their assistants and having a new head coach doesn't automatically mean he'd be retained. There's only one way he would be guaranteed a spot on the coaching staff.

There are at least two ways TJ is guaranteed a spot on ISU's coaching staff:

1. He is our next HC
2. A requirement of the new HC being offered the HC position is that he retains TJ
3. The new HC on his own decides keeping TJ as an assistant gives him the best chance to win. Great recruiters aren't easy to find. Especially ones with Midwest ties.

Afterall, TJ was a GMac hire and Fred kept him on staff. Who knows, maybe Jamie engineered that 5 years ago.

 

[Cyhart]

I'll be really disappointed if it is Otz. Not only will it be proof of the past two month dog and pony show to setup the Fred exit and TJ entry but when you replace a coach it should be about getting the absolute best coach you can. You should not concentrate on easing transition or mortgaging the future for next year, get the best coach possible. 5 years ago that was Fred due to the low ebb of our program and his connection to the university, which is unique in the basketball world. It sold hope to the fanbase and we happened to luck out that Fred was a darn good coach.

This time around TJ should not be the best option. There are plenty of established coaches out there that we should be able to get with the current players and the slightly raised profile of ISU, as well as our improved financials. If we just go the quick route to get TJ it may work out or it may not but it will not be getting the best coach we can.

Stated Reasons to Hire TJ:

Continuity - I do not understand this argument. TJ has been gone for 2 years. Sure he recruited some of our current players or participated in their recruitment but he hasn't been involved in their development, day to day practice, or game planning for the last 2 years. Instead he has been doing these things for a bad Washington Team. If continuity is the most important thing why not Mann or other assistants that were here.

Great Recruiter - I did some digging the other day that I posted in the TJ Bio thread. While TJ has brought many of our better players to Ames that could be said of every team's lead recruiter. On our current roster TJ was lead recruiter for Naz and Matt. Good players but not Georges (Recruited directly by Hoiberg) or Monte (Recruited by Mann). In his 7 years at ISU TJ brought in one 5 star (Brackins) and three 4 stars (Colvin, Thomas, and Noskowiak) he also brought in some 3 stars that ended up being great (Ejim, Garrett). Although I would say this puts him in the good recruiter category I don't think it puts him in the great category. I think he is a hard worker on the recruiting trail but not exceptional in his ability to close the deal.

Learned from Fred - Others have said it but he learned from McDremott and Romar too. He has been a part of 7 bad to average teams and 2 good teams. You can't give him props for the 2 without also giving some credit for the 7.

He loves Ames - He and Aus are definitely fan favorites and the endless articles and tailgate tour have worked hard to sell this angle. But I would just say we are in the process of seeing how that works out with someone with a lot more ties to the university and Ames. This is not something that should be a major consideration because at the end of the day it is a business and people will leave.

Everyone says he is an assistant that deserves a head coaching job - Yet he has looked and not been hired. I hope he gets a shot one day but I don't think ISU, today, should be it.

He and Jaime are friends - Yep.

Jaime is familiar with him - Yep.

Good post.
I like TJ. But I've heard none of these points mentioned by the media. I even heard Reid Forgrave call TJ a "Hoiberg guy" on the morning show the other day.

 

[Clone_12]

Remember how our last mid-major worked out? I don't care so much if someone can coach. You can develop as a coach. We need as many guys on staff as possible who can recruit because if you don't have the horses I don't care how well you coach.

Cyclone fans, for being a program with a single Sweet 16 this decade and a devastating tournament loss to end the season, are a really entitled bunch. We won the Big 12 tournament twice as highlights of Fred's tenure and you'd think we were a blue blood now.

1. The part in bold is absolutely ridiculous. I can't think of anything more frustrating than if we would underachieve next year with our top 10 roster because the squad plays undisciplined basketball. Next year is the most highly anticipated season in program history, and you don't care if we get someone that can coach? If you hand Wayne Morgan and Tom Izzo the same team, you are going to get different results. Let's get someone that can coach.

2. I don't think wanting a proven winner at a lower level is 'really entitled'.

3. Our last mid-major coach did suck...so did the last assistant we hired for continuity and because he could recruit. Any direction we go there will be risks associated with it. But there are far less risks handing over the reigns to someone that has shown he knows what he is doing on the sidelines.

 

[ForbinsAscynt]

That is only opinion. It is not fact that TJ is the next coach. Assumptions and opinions do not make something a fact. Why don't you let this play out instead of getting depressed over other people's opinions.

I understand that but the romars comments when TJ left are still glaring.

 

[IAStubborn]

He is flying to Chicago on Monday.

he was scheduled to return to work monday. Give it a rest who cares if he "could have" made the tailgate tour.

 

[FDclone]

Almost anyone that has won big or consistantly at the mid-low major level. Get someone that has shown they can coach, and keep TJ on as an assistant. A couple months ago the guy was HOPING for the Northern Kentucky and Wisconsin-Green Bay jobs, and it was no guarantee he would get either of them...but now many people seem to think that outside of Hornacek he is the best option we have? Because he knows the players, plays uptempo, and loves Ames?

Who says any of the "hot" mid-major coaches would come to ISU? Plus there are a lot more McD's and Lickliter types than Brad Stevens types.

 

[IcSyU]

Question for those all saying, "better coaches are out there."

As a coach, why would you turn down say....Florida...who has SIGNIFICANT recruiting advantages and a bigger budget for their basketball coach to coach Iowa State?

The best coaches are all hired at this point in time. That's the part where Fred really screwed us. The Final Four is the place where a lot of the coaching carousel takes place.

The mid-major coaches everyone keeps bringing up we're all discussed for other jobs this offseason which on paper are better jobs than Iowa State (aka they're willing to pay more). What on earth leads people to believe they would come into a situation where the short-term is fantastic but the long-term has a ton of question marks for a smaller salary than the bigger budgets offered?

 

[HFCS]

Who says any of the "hot" mid-major coaches would come to ISU? Plus there are a lot more McD's and Lickliter types than Brad Stevens types.

A mid major coach looking to jump to a major would be foolish not to take the ISU job right now. Great conference, nearly every game is on ESPN networks, great roster, great building, great fans. ISU is a top 20 job in college basketball right now.

 

[Clone_12]

Who says any of the "hot" mid-major coaches would come to ISU? Plus there are a lot more McD's and Lickliter types than Brad Stevens types.

I guarantee we would not strike out on all of them. We could triple or quadruple nearly all of their salary's and we are bringing back a top 10 roster with a chance to coach in the Big 12.

Also you are reaching to extremes in each direction with your Stevens to McDermott and Lickliter comment. Floyd and Eustachy came from New Orleans and Utah State. We are two for three in our last 3 mid-major hires.

 

[HoopsTournament]

I understand that but the romars comments when TJ left are still glaring.

my experience is what the public sees is always different than what is going on behind the scenes even with leaks. So no matter how many signs there are, all of this is just opinion right now. Plus things can change. Horny expressing interest can change things. So to overreact, which is what many are doing, before it happens is premature.

With that being said, if TJ is the coach, I will accept him as our #OtzelLord (copyright HoopsTournament 2015)

 

[Clone_12]

Question for those all saying, "better coaches are out there."

As a coach, why would you turn down say....Florida...who has SIGNIFICANT recruiting advantages and a bigger budget for their basketball coach to coach Iowa State?

The best coaches are all hired at this point in time. That's the part where Fred really screwed us. The Final Four is the place where a lot of the coaching carousel takes place.

The mid-major coaches everyone keeps bringing up we're all discussed for other jobs this offseason which on paper are better jobs than Iowa State (aka they're willing to pay more). What on earth leads people to believe they would come into a situation where the short-term is fantastic but the long-term has a ton of question marks for a smaller salary than the bigger budgets offered?

People keep pointing out one or two guys when they try to make this point. There are plenty of fish in the sea with impressive resume's and we would not strike out on all of them. Prohm, Underwood, Drew, Moton, and Hunter all blow TJ's resume out of the water. It took me 5 minutes to come up with those names and I could come up with more if all 5 of them said no to Jamie (which is unlikely).

Also, Florida ended up with a guy that has won back to back to back conference usa titles, which is not exactly striking out.

 

[SheldonCooper]

Who says any of the "hot" mid-major coaches would come to ISU?

You cannot be serious.

 

[mjhavlo76]

I am not anti-T.J. I believe he is a tenacious recruiter. I am just leery of his ability to be a head coach. If Pollard's and Leath's minds are already made up without contacting Hornacek, fans, and donors alike should be absolutely irrate!

 

[IcSyU]

1. The part in bold is absolutely ridiculous. I can't think of anything more frustrating than if we would underachieve next year with our top 10 roster because the squad plays undisciplined basketball.

Then I assume you didn't want Fred back coaching because we underachieved this year?

Remember when Lutz was on Fred's staff because he had no experience? Judging a hire just based on the head coach is a terrible idea. TJ is green no doubt but if he fills a spot on his staff with someone who does have a ton of experience and he's receptive to the ideas who cares where the coaching comes from?

Iowa State's first priority should be someone who can recruit. Get the horses and then figure it out. Scott Drew is a pathetic excuse for a basketball coach in my opinion but his horses bail him out and he's had more success during Fred's tenure at Baylor than Fred had at Iowa State and Fred is a superior coach.

 

[HFCS]

Given the Hornacek rumor, however fleeting, I would hope TJ is a backup to Hornacek.

I can't honestly say there have been a lot of other names floated that interest me any more than Otz. Otz over Floyd any day especially after the violations at USC.

 

[DesertClone1]

If Jeff isn't at least interviewed. 'I'm going to be severly disappointed in the whole freaking athletic department. Pollard needs to be held accountable if he doesn't even sniff him out. The good ol boys club is getting really old.
Jeff basically stated without saying it. I want the job, i'm going to get fired from Phoenix. Not entirely sure why... but it looks that way.

 

[CySmurf]

The key point is with Noskowiak's commitment.

This was TJ's first recruit as Iowa State's head coach.

When did Hoiberg interview for the Orlando and New Orleans job, pre or post surgery, if it was post surgery, then he could have surely made an appearance at the Tailgate Tour instead of TJ who made appearances during the Tailgate Tour.

Fred's appearance would have sabotaged that whole tailgate tour.