Who Can Continue the “Hoiball” Legacy at Iowa State?
I hate starting out any article with the phrase “sources say,” but “sources say” that my fantasy husband Fred Hoiberg is probablymaybedefinitely going to the Bulls this week. As an Iowan/lifelong Iowa State basketball fan, I can attest to the fact that we’ve all spent the past five years waiting on this to happen, so the move isn’t a shock. His youngest child finishes high school in Ames on Monday, so the time is right for a move — it’s as if the transition is being gift-wrapped for him.
As devastated as I am to (probably) not get to watch that pretty mug lead the Clones this season, this means it’s time for one of my favorite sports games…
Who Will Fill the Head Coaching Vacancy?
Names that have been floating in the ether:
T.J. Otzelberger
Current Cyclones head coach. With sports culture at Iowa State what it is (& this is almost unnameable — there’s a shockingly upstanding vibe at Hilton Coliseum), don’t be surprised to see AD Jamie Pollard look inward to someone who understands its nuances & high expectations. Rumor is that Otzelberger has already been having the “hypothetical coaching staff” conversations with those he’s interested in. Occam’s Razor says this is who’ll get the job. There are a number of pluses there, sure —monetary ones first & foremost in Jamie Pollard’s eyes, plus Otzelberger knows the current big guys (particularly important since he’d be inheriting a Top 5–10 team), he’s a recruiting badass (he nabbed Melvin Ejim, for instance), he understands the culture, & he’s intimately familiar with “Hoiball” offense. The problem, though, is that this guy simply has never been the head coach of a team (unless you count three years at a Catholic high school). I know full well that this might be a nitpicky concern, but as a Cyclones fan, I personally feel like going the Oztelberger route would be settling big time for Iowa State. This team is on the cusp of something & deserves a coaching staff that’s fully up to snuff to take ‘em the rest of the way there.
Jeff Hornacek
Current Phoenix Suns head coach. If I can’t have Hoiball, Hornyball is a close second. The reservations I have about Otzelberger are fully dealt with in the case of Jeff Hornacek. He’s a famed alum, his Speedy Gonzalez offense fits well at Iowa State, & in many ways, he’s Hoiberg-reminiscent. Would Hornacek leave his post with the Suns? Many people say no, but I wouldn’t discount it — he’s realistically the second most likely candidate following Otzelberger, & he’s a candidate that would likely make the Iowa State fanbase quite happy. Any questions I had about Hornacek’s interest in doing just that were quieted by this interview — upon being asked about his interest in returning to Ames, he replied:
“I can’t comment on that. I’m the coach of the Suns. It’s an interesting coaching carousel that goes on around the league and even down to the college level. So, if those things ever come about and the timing was right, yes, but as far as I know I’m the coach of the Suns.”
Brad Underwood
Current Stephen F. Austin head coach. I’ve seen his name floated around the internet a lot, but I’d be shocked if he took the job (if offered). Yes, his offense is like Hoiball-lite. Yes, his O&D rankings are in line with ISU’s. Yes, it’s more money & a big conference. Yes, this’d be the time for him to sell himself high coming off of a couple of hot years at SFA. I do think we’ll see Underwood make a jump to a more prestigous program very soon, but my eyes are pointed a bit west of Iowa (& toward Bruce Weber’s hotseat) for that. (Seriously, this guy is borderline obsessed with K-State, where he was assistant coach for, like, ever.)
Bryce Drew
Current Valparaiso head coach. He’s got the lineage & experience behind him, which is largely why his name’s been thrown around. There is a big issue with him, though: he’s not the star Iowa State needs. Last year, Valpo rung in at 284th in tempo, versus the Cyclones’ 17th ranking, & in 2013–14, they spent their postseason hanging out in the CIT (what happens when you miss the NCAA tourney, as well as the NIT & CBI). To be fair, Drew does coach in a small conference, & did well, numbers-wise — sitting at .691 overall during his time at Valpo. I just don’t see it happening when you’ve got options that are A] cheaper, B] bigger stars, & C] better offensive fits.
Russell Turner
Current UC-Irvine head coach; assistant Golden State coach from ‘04-’10. I’m much more interested in this pick than in either Brad Underwood or Bryce Drew. Turner, like Hoiberg, is coming off three consecutive 20-plus win seasons. (Trivia time: the only other ISU head coach to have done that? Tim Floyd. More on him in a minute.) He’s got the chops when it comes to dealing with talent — he coached guys like Tim Duncan & Josh Howard back at Wake Forest. Two months ago, he did turn down a move to George Mason, but wouldn’t you if you were in his shoes, coming off a season where you’d just taken your team to the second round of the NCAA tournament after missing it entirely the previous year? (He’s no stranger to looking outside of Irvine, though, having interviewed around over the past two years, including stops at Cal & VCU.) Both he & the Cyclones would have to make some offense adjustments to mesh perfectly, but it’s by no means something that couldn’t be done — & fairly easily, at that.
Archie Miller
Current Dayton head coach. Sure, this’d be cool, but I’m here to tell you that it ain’t happenin’. He just signed a contract extension at Dayton through 2022, meaning a huge buyout. Plus, he asked for $3M for the Florida job, & I can’t foresee any situation wherein Pollard shells out $3M.
Tim Floyd
Current UTEP head coach. Bulls fans, cover your ears. Few things would make me happier than seeing Tim Floyd back in Hilton — & I bet that the Cyclone fans who aren’t still holding a grudge against him feel the same way. He coached the Clones from ‘94-’98, & his career’s overlapped beautifully with Hoiberg’s thus far — his first coaching year at ISU was Hoiberg’s final playing year. As Bulls fans (sadly) know, Floyd, too made the jump to the Bulls where loads of circumstances caused him to crash & burn. Thankfully, he’s kept a coaching career since escaping Chicago — four seasons at USC & five at UTEP, where he finished 85–50 & 93–62, respectively. I think it’s mainly the homers who want to see Floyd take over Hoiberg’s spot — we love him, but let’s be real: he’s failed to see UTEP to the NCAA tournament any of his five years there, & his current record with them is pretty measly. At USC, however, he took the team dancing three of his four years, including a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2007. The question arises: Did Floyd go from awesome to blahsome because he’s declining or because the talent he had to work with was subpar (see the ‘98, ‘99, ’00 Bulls)? I don’t foresee Pollard realistically settling on Floyd, but it’s a fun fantasy while it lasts.
