Iowa State rewards Otzelberger with extension through 2028-29

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State coach T.J.Otzelberger has received a two-year contract extension that keepshim with the Cyclones through the 2028-29 season.

Athletic director Jamie Pollard announced the extension Monday,noting Otzelberger has led the team to the NCAA Tournament each ofhis first two seasons and signed the highest-rated recruiting classin program history.

“The complete transformation of our program in such a short timeis a testament to Coach Otzelberger’s leadership and vision forCyclone Basketball, and he is most deserving of this extension anda compensation increase,” Pollard said.

When Otzelberger was hired away from UNLV, he agreed to a lowersalary to help the athletic department manage buyout costs of theprevious staff.

Otzelberger’s annual salary will increase from $2 million to$2.5 million on July 1, $3 million in 2024 and $3.5 million in2025. He will received $100,000 increases each of the followingyears.

Iowa State was 19-14 overall and finished fifth in the Big 12Conference with a 9-9 record. The Cyclones had a nation-leading sixwins over top-10 teams and were one of two teams to win eightagainst Top 25 opponents.

Otzelberger took over a team that won two games in 2020-21 andled it to 22 wins and an NCAA regional semifinal in his first yearfor the biggest turnaround ever by a Power Five program.

His latest recruiting class was ranked No. 8 by ESPN, ninth by247Sports and 10th by Rivals and features McDonald’s All-AmericanOmaha Biliew.