Almost 12 days after firing former UNLV head coach Marvin Menzies, UNLV's athletic department has found its man. South Dakota State coach T.J. Otzelberger will be named the new skipper for the Runnin' Rebels basketball program, according to multiple reports. The decision was made by UNLV athletic director Denise Reed-Francois, who came to the conclusion with the help of Fogler Consulting.
The move, which comes after almost two weeks of silence, allows the new head coach an opportunity to reach out to recruits as well as the seven UNLV players who joined the NCAA Transfer Portal the past 12 days. It also, coincidentally, comes almost three years to the day UNLV announced the hiring of Chris Beard, who bolted for Texas Tech three weeks later.
Otzelberger, 41, tallied a 70-33 record at the helm of SDSU, leading the Jackrabbits to the NCAA tournament twice. Otzelberger appeared headed to his third in three years but the Jackrabbits were upset by the No. 8 seed, Western Illinois, in their conference tournament. SDSU was then eliminated by Texas in the first round of the NIT this past season, ending Otzelberger's last in the Summit League with South Dakota State.
A three-year starter for University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Otzelberger began his coaching career at Burlington Catholic Central High School in Burlington, Wis., before serving as an assistant coach for Chipola College in Florida. Otzelberger joined the Iowa State coaching staff in 2006, where he would remain for eight seasons. As Fred Hoiberg's associate head coach, he helped lead the Cyclones to its first NCAA tournament in 2012 and had a reputation as one of the top recruiters in the nation.
In 2013, Otzelberger joined the Washinton Huskies but left after just two years before returning to Iowa State. Otzelberger was hired by South Dakota State in April of 2016, where he has been ever since.
Social media was split over the decision.
https://twitter.com/willdouglas1/status/1110951381983064064?s=21
https://twitter.com/alexpvegas/status/1110962126699417600?s=21
https://twitter.com/karodanielian/status/1110962159733739520?s=21
https://twitter.com/lasvegaslocally/status/1110948065878249472?s=21
https://twitter.com/unlvsearch19/status/1110954756254691328?s=21
https://twitter.com/condorianfm/status/1110951038964498432?s=21
UNLV is expected to hold a press conference within the next few days, possibly even this afternoon. Due to the secretive nature of the search, one would assume the info leaking out is a sign UNLV and Reed-Francois are ready to officially announce the hire.
When Menzies was fired 12 days ago, Reed-Francois was adamant her hire would be one who could hold the room with Raiders head coach Jon Gruden, would be present within the community and also still be an experienced winner.
Sin City SM will have more on this breaking story as information becomes readily available to the media.
A three-year starter for University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Otzelberger began his coaching career at Burlington Catholic Central High School in Burlington, Wis., before serving as an assistant coach for Chipola College in Florida. Otzelberger joined the Iowa State coaching staff in 2006, where he would remain for eight seasons. As Fred Hoiberg's associate head coach, he helped lead the Cyclones to its first NCAA tournament in 2012 and had a reputation as one of the top recruiters in the nation.
In 2013, Otzelberger joined the Washinton Huskies but left after just two years before returning to Iowa State. Otzelberger was hired by South Dakota State in April of 2016, where he has been ever since.
Social media was split over the decision.
https://twitter.com/willdouglas1/status/1110951381983064064?s=21
https://twitter.com/alexpvegas/status/1110962126699417600?s=21
https://twitter.com/karodanielian/status/1110962159733739520?s=21
https://twitter.com/lasvegaslocally/status/1110948065878249472?s=21
https://twitter.com/unlvsearch19/status/1110954756254691328?s=21
https://twitter.com/condorianfm/status/1110951038964498432?s=21
UNLV is expected to hold a press conference within the next few days, possibly even this afternoon. Due to the secretive nature of the search, one would assume the info leaking out is a sign UNLV and Reed-Francois are ready to officially announce the hire.
When Menzies was fired 12 days ago, Reed-Francois was adamant her hire would be one who could hold the room with Raiders head coach Jon Gruden, would be present within the community and also still be an experienced winner.
Sin City SM will have more on this breaking story as information becomes readily available to the media.
