New Iowa State coach Steve Prohm will keep assistant T.J. Otzelberger on his staff next season.
Prohm announced his assistant coaches Monday, two weeks after being hired to replace Fred Hoiberg.
Otzelberger, who worked at Iowa State under both Greg McDermott and Hoiberg, was rehired by Hoiberg shortly before he left to take over the Chicago Bulls. Otzelberger interviewed for the vacancy, but the Cyclones instead hired Prohm from Murray State.
''T.J. has been terrific throughout the process,'' Prohm said. ''I have talked to every one of his former bosses and everyone gave him glowing reports about the type of assistant that he was. He has a great passion for Iowa State and he understands the kind of player you have to have here to win.''
Otzelberger spent seven seasons at Iowa State before a two-year stint at Washington. He recruited many of the players set to return for the Cyclones next season.
''Coach Prohm is someone that I have always had a tremendous amount of respect for in the coaching profession,'' Otzelberger said. ''His teams have great confidence and he has a track record for developing players that play with great purpose.''
Prohm has also brought former Murray State assistant William Small to Ames. Small was crucial in Prohm's efforts to bring stars Cameron Payne and Isaiah Cannon to Murray State. He'll likely be focused on expanding Iowa State's recruiting reach to the South.
Daniyal Robinson, a former Iowa State and Loyola (Chicago) assistant, will use his Midwest and junior-college ties to help the Cyclones maintain their recent efforts recruiting in those areas. Neal Berry, who played for Prohm at Southeastern Louisiana, will serve as an assistant, and Micah Byers will remain the director of basketball operations.
