Hoiberg returns to Iowa State as basketball coach and more
From Phil Miller/Star Tribune:
Since the day he accepted Glen Taylor's offer to join the Timberwolves' front office five years ago, running the Wolves franchise was a job Fred Hoiberg appeared destined to hold. Until, that is, he was offered a job he was born to hold.
Hoiberg, who led Ames High to an Iowa state championship before embarking on an all-conference career across town at Iowa State, has agreed to return to his hometown to become head coach at his alma mater.
From the Associated Press:
Hoiberg, who was the vice president of basketball operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves, is widely regarded as one of the most popular players in Iowa State history.
A prep star from Ames High, Hoiberg scored nearly 2,000 points for the hometown Cyclones from 1991-95. He spent 10 seasons in the NBA with the Pacers, Bulls and Timberwolves before a heart issue eventually forced him to retire in 2006.
But while Hoiberg was involved in collegiate scouting with Minnesota, he's never been a head coach. He also inherits a program that has had four straight losing seasons and was hit hard by player defections this spring.
From Randy Peterson/Des Moines Register:
Negotiations with Hoiberg, the former Ames prep who was nicknamed the Mayor by teammates during a sterling Cyclone career, began Tuesday afternoon, according to Malchow.
"From my standpoint, it was an outstanding hire," Boozer said.
The initial reaction around town to the hiring of Hoiberg also was positive.
"When I left work today, everyone was talking about it; people were giddy," said Ames physician Jon Fleming. "Phenomenal hire."
From Berry Tramel/The Oklahoman:
You spent a lot of years with the Lakers. Was it tough leaving Phil Jackson’s staff to take the head coaching job at a rebuilding place like Minnesota?
Rambis: "There’s a lot of things that fell into place. I felt I was ready for my own head coaching experience for a few years prior to taking the Minnesota job. But the other situations just weren’t right. It was a combination of being in synch with general manager David Kahn. He was newly hired. We saw eye to eye on what our vision was to be for the team and the style of ball we wanted to have."
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