Coaches Corner: T.J. Otzelberger

AMES, Iowa- Iowa State assistant men's basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger will enter his fourth season on staff next year. Cyclones.com had a chance to ask the Milwaukee, Wis., native a few questions ranging from his favorite things to his relationships with Pete Rose and Denzel Washington.

What's on TV:
I watch a lot of basketball. From a network standpoint, I like The Hills as well as the Real World. Those are the two main shows I watch outside of basketball.

What is on your iPod:
My favorite artist is Lil' Wayne. I also listen to a lot of Jay-Z, The Game and T.I.

Favorite dinner:
I would eat steak and eggs.

Best part of living in Ames:
I like the vibe and the support for Iowa State. I love being in a college town and being in a place where people are so passionate about what we can accomplish.

Greatest accomplishment as a basketball player:
My AAU team when I was heading into my senior year in high school took fifth in the AAU National Tournament. We lost to Tim Thomas' team and beat Mike Bibby's team and got a chance to play some of the best teams in the country.

First job:
I worked at a Christian youth camp and drove a school bus. I drove them to Six Flags and different water parks and amusement parks throughout the summer.

Favorite movie:
Good Will Hunting, Jerry Maguire and Training Day. I like Denzel Washington movies. I have had a chance to meet him and hang out with him in Los Angeles. His son was on the Pump and Run AAU team that I used to coach for.

Sports idol:
Rex Chapman.

Favorite sports team:
Milwaukee Brewers.

When and how did you develop your relationship with Craig?
Craig was one of the first guys that I met when I moved to California. I saw him working out at an open gym and saw the talent he possessed. At the time he was around 6-7 and 175 pounds and you could see a guy who had such potential and promise who had no idea how good he could be. We developed our relationship through that summer when I was coaching his AAU team and we moved him up to one of the top teams near the end of the summer. He would stay with me on nights before we would go play at the tournaments so we had a chance to watch TV and hang out.

How good is the basketball in Wisconsin?
The basketball in Wisconsin is a lot better than people give it credit for. You look at a big city like Chicago that has a reputation for producing a far bigger audience of coaches more frequently. Milwaukee and the area Antwon (Oliver) is from (Racine) is an area that is under recruited. Racine has produced Caron Butler, Jim McIlvaine and Nick Van Exel, all guys who played in the NBA. Then you look at Milwaukee where there is a rich tradition with seven or eight players in the NBA, including Mike Taylor. There are a lot of guys that people don't give enough credit to. Kids in the Milwaukee area have an innate toughness that helps them for the next level.

How did you get to know Pete Rose?
I got to know Pete when I was living in California. I was at a gym doing individual workouts with some players on my AAU team and Pete's son (Tyler) came in and was shooting. I did not like the way he was working out, but you could see he had ability. I started working his son out and after the third time he said my father wants to come down and meet you and give you a few bucks for helping me. I didn't believe him at first, but all of sudden here comes Pete Rose. I think our relationship is as strong as it is because Pete and I kind of had a confrontation the first time I met him and he was very suffocating over his son, giving out orders. Pete and I had a discussion that if I was working with him, you need to stay out of the gym. When I got out of the workout, he left me a message saying he wanted to take me to dinner. He and I grabbed dinner together and just talked and built up a relationship. Whenever I am fortunate enough to go out to Las Vegas to recruit (he works at Ceasar's Palace), I make it a point to go meet him for dinner or breakfast.

You coached for the Pump and Run AAU program, besides Craig Brackins, who were some of the best players you coached?
Alex Stepheson, who is now at USC, is one. I coached Larry Drew (North Carolina) and Calvin Haynes, who played last year for Oregon State and came on strong at the end of the season. Some of the guys I recruited and worked out are probably more high profile. Jrue Holiday (UCLA), James Harden of Arizona State, Austin Day from Gonzaga, Jeremy Anderson from UCLA, they were all guys I recruited or worked out.

Players Mentioned

Craig Brackins

Craig Brackins

Craig Brackins

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