TJ Otzelberger Provides Iowa State Basketball Assistants With Opportunity

Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger is one of the best coaches in the nation.

In five years with Iowa State, he has taken them to five straight NCAA tournaments, reaching the Sweet Sixteen three times. He has an overall record of 124-53, an incredible feat. But it’s not only Otzelberger that’s elevating this Cyclone squad.

JR Blount was an Iowa State assistant coach throughout the five years that Otzelberger has been in charge of the Cyclones. Blount also spent time on the coaching staff of the Colorado State Rams, as well as the Drake Bulldogs at the Division I level. But now, he’s headed to his first DI head coaching role.

Blount was hired to become the next head coach of the San Diego Toreros, a struggling WCC program that went just 12-21 in the 2025-26 season.

Multiple Iowa State assistants hired to become head coaches

Mar 21, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Iowa State head coach T. J. Otzelberger, right and assistant coach JR Blount during the first half of their first round NCAA men’s basketball tournament game against Lipscomb at Fiserv Forum. Otzelberger went to St. Thomas More High School in Milwaukee and played at UW-Whitwater. Blount went to school at Dominican High School in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. | Mark Hoffman-Imagn Images

But Blount comes to a beautiful campus in sunny California, hoping to compete in a new age WCC without the top dog, Gonzaga, for the foreseeable future. Blount has the potential to completely revive the program and bring it to glory.

Otzelberger’s tree is incredible, as an assistant was able to get a head coaching role at another DI school, which isn’t super common. But Blount also wasn’t the only one on Otzelberger’s staff.

Kyle Green, another assistant to Otzelberger, also got a head coaching job. Green has taken the open role at the Northern Iowa Panthers, a program that was a No. 12 seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament.

A head coaching role in the Missouri Valley Conference is already impressive, but from the conference champion? That’s really impressive. Green gets a great opportunity to lead a team with a large fanbase, recent success, and a solid roster to compete in the MVC.

GOT OUR GUY‼️

We are proud to welcome Kyle Green as the 26th head coach in UNI men's basketball history!

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— UNI Basketball (@UNImbb) April 1, 2026

Otzelberger’s coaching tree has now seen two assistant coaches take jobs at other DI schools, and even some solid schools as well.

With five assistant coaches on the staff, it makes you wonder if all five could have gotten DI opportunities with different schools. The reality is, coming to Iowa State puts you in a perfect position to come in, get experience, and get you off to a perfect opportunity for you.

It’s simple. If you want to be an assistant head coach, looking to compete with Otzelberger and eventually get a head coaching job, it’s worth it to come to the Cyclones. The coaching in Ames is top-tier, and their defense-heavy system goes a long way, which is intriguing for programs all around the country.