There’s even more reason to think T.J. Otzelberger is leaving UNLV.
Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard addressed his fan base in a video on Twitter. Pollard indicated why it is important to land a new head coach quickly.
“I anticipate the search will go pretty quickly,” Pollard said. “Why? With the landscape that we’re in now in college athletics, with transfers being able to leave and be eligible right away at other schools, with the recruits that we’ve signed, we have a responsibility to those young men to be able to share with them sooner rather than later who their head coach is going to be.”
Not only has Otzelberger been reported as the favorite, he and Pollard have a great relationship. Meaning if Iowa State moves quickly, Otzelberger has an even better chance of landing the job.
The longer the job goes, the more likely other coaches get involved. But right now, coaches (head or assistant) that are in the NCAA Tournament would presumably not be able to take the job.
Meanwhile, Otzelberger could accept it right now.
Pollard also gave this interesting quote: “The best person doesn’t just mean because somebody can win at another program that they can win at Iowa State. We gotta get the right person to be the head coach at Iowa State.”
That sounds like a quote to prepare a fanbase for hiring a coach that is 29-30 at UNLV the last two seasons.
There’s also a helpful tip for UNLV athletics from Pollard too. If Otzelberger leaves, UNLV will need to move quickly with a coaching search.
For the current roster, recruits and potential transfers, UNLV will need a new coach soon. The transfer portal should be full of talent. That along with the potential to keep current players and recruits would give a new coach chance for immediate success. Or at least a .500 season.
Desire Reed-Francois needs to be ready to go.