Otzelberger Named to Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year Watch List

ATLANTA, Ga. – Iowa State Men's Basketball Head Coach T.J. Otzelberger has been named to the Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year Watch List. Of the 15 coaches named to the list, the Big 12 is tied for the most in the country with four.

Otzelberger was one of four finalist for the award in 2024 and has been named to the Top 15 multiple times while at Iowa State. In his fifth season at the helm, Otzelberger has led the Cyclones to a 23-3 record, just the second time in program history the Cyclones have hit 23 wins in 26 games. ISU started the year 16-0, marking the best start to a season in school history and the longest winning streak in program history.

The quickest coach in program history to 100 wins, Otzelberger did so in 145 games. His 118 victories at Iowa State are the most in the first five years at the helm and the most by any coach at Iowa State since Johnny Orr set the program record with 218 in 1994.

Otzelberger has the best overall winning percentage (.711) and conference winning percentage (.598) in school history. His 75 wins at Hilton Coliseum are second to Orr's 154. He has led Iowa State to the most AP Top 25 wins (29), AP Top 10 wins (15) and most NCAA Tournament wins (5) in school history.

No. 6 Iowa State returns to action Saturday, facing No. 23 BYU in Provo. Tipoff is set for 9:30 p.m. (CT) on ESPN.