After guiding the Iowa State men’s basketball team to its third Sweet 16 appearance in five years, head men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger has agreed to a new contract that will keep him leading the Cyclone program through June 30, 2036 and increase his salary to $6 million annually, Endowed Cyclone Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard announced today.
“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,” 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 finished the 2025-26 season with a 29-8 record, tied for the second-most wins in school history. The Cyclones were ranked No. 8 in the final AP Top 25 Poll, the 52nd-straight week they have been ranked. ISU’s AP Top 25 streak is the second-longest in school history and the fourth-longest active streak in the country. Playing in its 25th NCAA Tournament in program history, the Cyclones advanced to the Sweet 16 for the eighth time in program history.
While enjoying great success on the court, the program has also flourished academically under Otzelberger’s guidance, posting a program-record 3.39 grade-point average for the fall 2025 semester—the seventh time in nine semesters the team has registered a GPA of 3.00 or higher.
“Coach Otzelberger’s commitment to Iowa State University and our men’s basketball program is a true reflection of his character and values,” ISU President David Cook said. “He has reshaped the culture of our men’s basketball program in a way that fosters success and the development of our student-athletes as players and young men. I am proud of the way he represents Iowa State and thrilled that he will continue leading the team as our head coach for the next 10 years.”
Introduced as the 21st head coach in program history on March 18, 2021, Otzelberger inherited a program coming off a 2-22 campaign and has since led it to five-straight NCAA Tournament bids, including a trio of Sweet 16 appearances and the 2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament title. He owns a five-year record of 124-53 (.701) at Iowa State, including a 54-38 (.587) mark in Big 12 play, and his overall career record in 10 seasons as head coach stands at 223-115 (.658). Otzelberger had 95 wins through four years at Iowa State and 124 after five campaigns, both the most by any coach through four or five seasons in school history, while his overall (.701) and conference (.587) winning percentages are also school records.
The only coach in program history to lead multiple teams to the Sweet 16 (2022, 2024, 2026), Otzelberger has 30 victories over AP Top 25 teams, the most by any coach in school history, with half of those victories coming over AP Top 10 foes. He joins Johnny Orr (5) and Fred Hoiberg (4) as the program’s only coaches to register at least four 20-win seasons.
“I’m thankful for the support of our President, Dr. 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.”
https://cyclones.com/news/2026/4/29/mens-basketball-otzelberger-agrees-to-10-year-contract-extension
