The UVA Men’s Basketball program is in shambles, and a new head coach is definitely needed to bring it back to glory. According to UVA insider Jerry Ratcliffe, a new pick has been rising the ranks in Virginia’s search: Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger.
“T.J. Otzelberger, who has rebuilt the Iowa State Cyclones the past few seasons, is considered a coaching star on the rise and appears to be a perfect fit for Virginia, much like Tony Bennett was when he was lured to Charlottesville from Washington State.”
Otzelberger has been Iowa State’s coach since 2021, and he made it pull a miraculous turnaround. The season before he came, the Cyclones finished 2-22. In his first season, he won 22 games and made all the way to the Sweet Sixteen in March Madness. Overall, he’s been to March Madness three times, with two Sweet Sixteen appearances, and won a Big 12 title.
This season, the Cyclones are 17-5, and no. 8 in the AP Top 25. The team is expected to be the no. 2 seed in the West region.
If the Hoos want Otzelberger, they better be prepared to pay the price. His contract has him at Iowa State till 2032, and if he buys out, it’s going to be around $18 million. But with his track record and the money UVA has, it seems like a no-brainer.
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