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.
T.J. Otzelberger is an underwhelming hire to say the least…which isn't to say he won't ultimately be good. But if @DRFrancois1 feels THIS is the name that will cure last season's attendance woes, and the apathy currently attached to the #UNLVmbb program, she's sorely mistaken.
— Will Douglas (@WillDouglas1) March 27, 2019
I think TJ can be a formidable coach in the MWC. I don't think he is going to be able to win at the level I would hope for at UNLV. The ceiling isn't as high off the ground as the Miller tandem.
— Alex Pereszlenyi (@AlexPVegas) March 27, 2019
IDIOTS. IDIOTS. IDIOTS. @TheRunninRebels @UNLVathletics @unlv
— The Golden One (@KaroDanielian) March 27, 2019
Amazingly stupid move by UNLV Athletics. See you all in 3 years when we're in exactly the same situation. https://t.co/U4vFPBnnlN
— Las Vegas Locally 🌴 (@LasVegasLocally) March 27, 2019
TJ Otzelyafuckingkiddinme
— Rebel Fan (@UNLVSearch19) March 27, 2019
Otzelberger is an excellent hire for UNLV. Has had great success in his short stint at SDSU. And a bonus is he learned how to recruit under Romar and how to coach under Hoiberg.
— Connor Hope (@CondorianFM) March 27, 2019
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.
