After two seasons with the Washington men’s basketball program, assistant coach T.J. Otzelberger is returning to Iowa State take an assistant’w job under Cyclones coach Fred Hoiberg.
Otzelberger was an assistant at Iowa State for seven seasons (2006-13), working for former coach Greg McDermott and then three years for Hoiberg, before joining Lorenzo Romar at UW.
The move became official Wednesday when Iowa State issued a press release.
“Returning to Iowa State is a dream come true for my family and I,” Otzelberger said. “We are truly passionate about this university and the Ames community. I couldn’t be more enthusiastic to get back to work with Coach Hoiberg and the excellent staff he has assembled. It feels great to be coming home.”
Otzelberger is considered a respected recruiter with deep AAU connections. A Milwaukee native, his return to the Big 12 moves him closer to home and opens up a job on Romar’s coaching staff.
“I’m excited to have T.J. rejoin our staff,” Hoiberg said. “His familiarity with our program and Iowa State University will help us to have a seamless transition. T.J. is a proven coach and recruiter, and he will be very valuable to our coaching staff.”
Report: Dierickx to transfer
Center Gilles Dierickx is expected to transfer from Washington, according to an ESPN report, though the school has yet to make anything official.
The fourth-year junior from Belgium was ineffective this past season when the dismissal of C Robert Upshaw and injuries forced him into the rotation. He was often overwhelmed by stronger, more skilled post players on both ends of the court, and his numbers reflected that. The 7-footer averaged 1 point and 1.5 rebounds in 9.9 minutes per game.
After transferring from Florida International following the 2011-12 season, Dierickx sat out 2012-13 because of NCAA rules and played sparingly the next season.
The native Belgian is still listed on UW’s official roster.
2 Comments
Two tough losses for UW. Otzelberger is a big reason why the Dawgs are bringing in a great class for next season. One that’s been ranked one of the tops in the nation. I’d love to see Romar recruit Tommy Lloyd of Gonzaga across the state but I’d be surprised if Lloyd would leave. He’s done a great job, especially internationally, for the Zags.
Understand why Dierickx would leave for more playing time but I don’t see things changing for him. He should work on his game because the team has a need for height. Players leaving for more playing time has been happening too often for my tastes for UW basketball. It hurts the growth of the team.
Happens everywhere, JAF. Size obviously helps in basketball but you have to have SOME skills to go with it.
I remember going to an NWAACC game at Bellevue CC as a kid in the mid-Seventies to see a 7-footer named Peter “Grasshopper” Walsh, who Ernie Woods recruited out of Australia. BCC’s opponent, Fort Steilacoom, had a 6’4″ center named Stacey Todd and I expected dominance with that eight-inch differential. I guessed right: Todd schooled the Grasshopper, who just didn’t have any game. Ernie was a great recruiter but he whiffed on that one.