AMES – Iowa State men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger has been named to the 2023 Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Late Season Watch List.
Otzelberger is one of 15 coaches across the country named to the list, including three from the Big 12.
In his second season at the helm, Otzelberger has led the Cyclones to a Top 20 ranking for the second-straight year, as the Cyclones sit 17-8 overall on the year and are currently ranked No. 19 in the nation. Of those 17 victories, seven have come against teams ranked in the AP Top 25, the most by any team in America.
A list of 10 semifinalists will be announced on Thursday, March 9. The Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year award will be narrowed to four finalists on Monday, March 20. The final round includes an opportunity for consumers to participate through the Naismith Awards Fan Vote presented by Jersey Mike’s, which accounts for 5% of the total vote and runs from March 21-28. The winner will be announced on Sunday, April 2, at the Naismith Awards Brunch presented by Frost Bank at the Final Four in Houston.
“Each year we are amazed by the remarkable coaching performances that elevate these contenders as candidates for the Werner Ladder Naismith College Men’s Coach of the Year,” said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “The end of the regular season, with tremendous pressure on each game, usually separates those seeking to advance in the next step in our voting.”
