Otzelberger returns to Sioux Falls for game

Iowa State fans in western South Dakota will have a shorter trip to see their team play next week. The 18th-ranked Cyclones are scheduled to face Memphis on Monday at 6 p.m. Central Time. The game is part of the Sanford Pentagon opening day events in Sioux Falls.

TJ Otzelberger, the 49-year-old head coach at Iowa State, is back in the state where he began his college head coaching career. He will coach from the sideline for the first time in the Pentagon since taking the Ames job. The event also features the Field of 68 Showcase earlier in the day. Murray State plays Tennessee State at 10:30 a.m. UTEP faces Northern Kentucky at 1 p.m.

Otzelberger spent three seasons at South Dakota State from 2016 to 2019. He compiled a 70-33 record before moving to UNLV for two years. He later accepted the Iowa State position, which he has described as his dream job. He has a 124-53 record in five seasons in Ames. His teams have made five NCAA tournament appearances, though none have advanced past the Sweet 16.

The coach said he returns to Sioux Falls because of the neutral court atmosphere. He noted that the fans and the venue provide a high-quality environment for a non-conference game. He also pointed out that many Iowa State supporters live in Sioux Falls or near the state border. Those fans can travel easily to watch the team play.

Otzelberger watched parts of two local football games on Saturday night. He saw the Jacks-Yotes game through halftime. He then watched Iowa State beat Oklahoma State late in the evening. He credited former SDSU coach Jimmy Rogers with a gutsy win for the Cyclones despite numerous injuries on the field.

The coach praised the leadership at South Dakota State. He specifically named Justin Sell, the current athletic director, as a tremendous leader. Otzelberger said the resources SDSU invests in its programs help coaches succeed. He noted that other coaches from the school have also moved on to higher-profile jobs.

He discussed the changes in college sports, including the transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness deals. He said the key to success is finding the right people and developing them. He believes retention is the name of the game in the current landscape. He remained undecided on whether the expanded tournament format is better, saying it will take a few years to see the impact.

Otzelberger acknowledged that mid-major programs face financial pressures from larger schools. He said these schools often recruit players from lower divisions, such as Division II or NAIA. He mentioned Mike Daum, a former SDSU player, as an example of a talent that might be harder to retain for four full years today. He said he still keeps in touch with Daum and other former players, including Reed Tellinghuisen.