NCAA BASKETBALL: Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger shoots down job speculation

Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger on Wednesday dismissed rumors linking him to other coaching jobs, calling the speculation “not true,” as reports continue to suggest he could be a target for North Carolina.

Otzelberger addressed the matter at the team hotel in Chicago shortly after the No. 2 seed Cyclones (29-7) arrived for Friday’s Sweet 16 matchup against No. 6 Tennessee.

“Any speculation with me and any other jobs or opportunities is not true,” Otzelberger told reporters. “I’m the coach of the Cyclones, thrilled to be the coach of the Cyclones. And what I can say to you even more, as we move forward together, is the alignment on our campus—with Dr. David Cook, Jamie Pollard—is amazing. We’re thrilled and excited about our future together.

“Really appreciative and grateful for Jamie Pollard and David Cook and the conversations we’ve had. Just excited about our future. That’s topic No. 1. There’s no questions about it, there’s nothing to talk about, there’s nothing else to answer. That’s the truth.”

Otzelberger, 48, is in his fifth season at Iowa State and owns a 124-52 record entering Friday’s game. This season marks the third time he has led the Cyclones to the Sweet 16.

He is under contract through the 2031-32 season with a $4 million annual salary and a $4 million buyout if he leaves for another position.

Shortly after Otzelberger addressed the rumors, athletic director Jamie Pollard shared his support on social media.

“Excited for Cyclone Nation that TJ is not going anywhere—he will be our basketball coach for a long time!” Pollard wrote.

Iowa State standout point guard Tamin Lipsey said he isn’t surprised by the rumors surrounding Otzelberger.

“There’s rumors every year when there’s a head coaching job, his name is brought up. That’s a credit to him and what he’s done with this program,” Lipsey told reporters in Chicago. “This is where he wants to be. To see him come out and say that right away should mean a lot to us players and the fans in general.”

Otzelberger has a 223-115 record in 10 seasons as a head coach, including stops at South Dakota State (2016-19) and UNLV (2020-21).

—Field Level Media/Reuters