Iowa State head men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger has announced his complete support staff.
Otzelberger has named Nate Schmidt as the Cyclones’ recruiting and player development coordinator, Pete Link as the head strength and conditioning coordinator and Blake Wetherington as the recruiting and scouting coordinator. Julie Voss also returns for her 44th year as the administrative specialist for men’s basketball.
Otzelberger previously announced he was retaining director of basketball operations Micah Byars.
Nate Schmidt returns to Iowa State where he spent three seasons under Fred Hoiberg and Steve Prohm as a graduate assistant and coordinator of player development from 2014-2017, helping the Cyclones to a 72-32 record, three NCAA Tournament appearances and a pair of Big 12 Tournament titles.
“Nate takes a tremendous amount of pride in the development of student-athletes and will be an important member of our staff,” Otzelberger said.
After leaving Iowa State, Schmidt was an assistant coach at Indian Hills Community College for two seasons, before spending the summer of 2019 in Las Vegas training former Cyclone greats Georges Niang, Nazareth Mitrou-Long and Will Clyburn.
Schmidt then spent the 2019-20 season as video coordinator for the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA G-League. The Ypsilanti, Michigan native followed that with a stint on Otzelberger’s staff at UNLV and served as the director of player development last season.
Pete Link, a Farley, Iowa native, returns to Iowa State to serve as Otzelberger’s head strength and conditioning coordinator after spending last season in the same role at UNLV. Prior to his time in Las Vegas, Link was the Iowa State men’s basketball strength and conditioning coach from 2016-20, the women’s basketball strength and conditioning coach from 2012-16 and assistant director of strength and conditioning for Olympic sports from 2008-12.
“Pete’s work ethic, expertise and ability to connect with student-athletes will impact our program immediately,” Otzelberger said.
In his previous role with the ISU men’s basketball program, Link helped the Cyclones win 72 games and a pair of Big 12 Tournament titles. He assisted in the development of NBA lottery pick Tyrese Haliburton and future professionals Monte Morris, Naz Mitrou-Long, Deonte Burton, Matt Thomas, Marial Shayok and Talen Horton-Tucker, among others.
Blake Wetherington, who has served as a graduate assistant the last three seasons, will continue on Otzelberger’s staff as a recruiting and scouting coordinator. In his role he will assist the staff with developing and maintaining the Iowa State men’s basketball brand, as well other recruiting and scouting duties.
“In my time back here, Blake has demonstrated his talent, creativity and attention to detail in bettering our program each day,” Otzelberger said.
The Mayfield, Kentucky native was key in the development of three future NBA players in Marial Shayok, Talen Horton-Tucker and Tyrese Haliburton. He was also the creative mind behind all recruiting graphics for the Cyclones and in 2021 was selected as one of 22 graduate assistants across all levels to be a part of the inaugural GA Top Connect GALA.
In his seven years working in college basketball as a manager (Murray State) and graduate assistant, Wetherington has been a part of four team championships (regular season and tournament).
Otzelberger also said that Julie Voss continues in her role as basketball office assistant for the 44th year. Voss has worked for nine Cyclone head coaches and plays a vital role in the day-to-day operations of the program. She has been in the program for 19 of Iowa State’s 20 NCAA Tournament appearances.
“Julie has an unparalleled passion and enthusiasm for Iowa State basketball and the Ames community and has been a valued member of our program for many years,” Otzelberger said.
https://cyclones.com/news/2021/4/6/mens-basketball-otzelberger-announces-support-staff.aspx
