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Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger agrees to 10-year extension

By Thomson Reuters Apr 29, 2026 | 11:54 AM

Iowa State men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger agreed to a 10-year contract extension on Wednesday that will pay him $6 million annually. He is ​now under contract until June 30, 2036.

Otzelberger ‌guided the Cyclones to their third Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament over the past five seasons in 2025-26. Iowa State finished with a 29-8 record, tying for the second-most wins ‌in ​program history.

“Coach Otzelberger has elevated ⁠our men’s basketball program ⁠into a perennial NCAA Tournament and Top 25 team. This contract extension demonstrates Iowa State University’s commitment to him by making him one of the highest ​paid basketball coaches in the country,” athletic director Jamie Pollard said. “We are excited to reward him for ⁠the success we have enjoyed ⁠during his first five years leading the ​Cyclones and we look forward to continued success under his ​leadership.”

Iowa State has earned five straight NCAA Tournament ‌bids under Otzelberger, who was hired in March 2021 after the program went 2-22 in 2020-21. The Cyclones are 124-53 overall in five seasons with Otzelberger at ⁠the helm.

“I’m thankful for the support of our President, Dr. (David) Cook and our athletics director, Jamie Pollard,” Otzelberger said. “We are ⁠humbled and ‌grateful to continue leading a program that ⁠means so much to us. Iowa ​State is ‌home for my family, and we ​are excited ⁠to be part of the community for years to come.”

Otzelberger, 48, is 223-116 in 10 seasons with South Dakota State (2016-19), UNLV (2019-21) and Iowa State. He also took South Dakota State to the NCAA Tournament on two occasions (2017, ​2018).

–Field Level Media