Who will replace Fred Hoiberg at Iowa State?

The next coach of Iowa State basketball will have some huge shoes to fill, but will also inherit a very good team.

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Much has been made of how the Chicago Bulls’ firing of Tom Thibodeau and subsequent hiring of Fred Hoiberg will impact the NBA next season. But the move will also have a huge impact on college basketball in 2015-16.

Hoiberg led Iowa State to a 115-56 record over the past five seasons, including two round of 32 appearances and a Sweet Sixteen in 2013-14. His tenure has elevated the program to a different level, and the Cyclones have the pieces in place to keep being a factor in the Big 12 for years to come.

So much of the Cyclones’ success was built on Hoiberg’s ability to lure top transfers and the program just lost a beloved homegrown coach, so it’s easy to see why fans might not be feeling too confident about the future. However, there are still reasons to be optimistic in Ames.

With Georges Niang, Monte Morris, Naz Long and Marquette transfer Deonte Burton on the expected 2015-16 roster, Iowa State should begin the year ranked in at least the top 10. There’s no reason why the Cyclones can’t compete with Kansas and the other top teams in the Big 12, particularly if they find a quality coaching replacement.

A number of candidates, from those associated with the program to up-and-coming outsiders, stand out as possible Hoiberg replacements.

Consider longtime assistant T.J. Otzelberger the heavy favorite to take over in Ames next fall.

While becoming the top man at a major program with no prior head coaching experience could be a bit of a leap, Otzelberger has earned a reputation as one of the best assistants in the country. Otzelberger was an assistant and associate head coach at Iowa State from 2006-2013, when he helped lure a number of top prospects and transfers with his excellent recruiting ability, including some of the current roster.

He was lured away to be an assistant at Washington in 2013, a move he believed would help him eventually land a head coaching gig. It must be noted that the Huskies weren’t very good while Otzelberger was there, but he again helped land a number of great recruits, including star point guard Nigel Williams-Goss.

Perhaps Otzelberger saw the writing on the wall when he returned to Iowa State as an assistant last month. Athletic Director Jamie Pollard likes him, and it would be a pretty big surprise if anyone else ended up being hired.

If the Cyclones want to look outside the program, Brad Underwood has to be at the top of their list. Underwood has led Stephen F. Austin to a 61-8 record over the past two seasons and is perhaps the most sought-after low-major coach in the country.

There’s been success in the NCAA Tournament too, as Underwood’s Lumberjacks took down always-tough VCU in 2014 and gave a very good Utah team a run this March. He will undoubtedly get a ton of offers, and Iowa State would be a great opportunity for him. However, he could also hold out for alma mater Kansas State, which will likely be firing Bruce Weber in the near future.

Another up-and-coming head coach that could be a possibility is Valparaiso’s Bryce Drew. Drew has had success in four years at the helm of the Crusaders and might like a chance to coach against his brother Scott at Baylor.

However, Drew could be slightly harder to lure away, as he played at Valparaiso and hit one of the most famous buzzer beaters in the history of the NCAA Tournament there. If Drew keeps winning, he’ll have no choice but to take a bigger job eventually, but this might not be the time.

A long shot to keep an eye on is Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek. Having a former player as head coach worked so well for Iowa State with Hoiberg, that Hornacek is likely on the Cyclones’ radar, if for nothing more than a phone inquiry.

Of course, very few head coaches would want to leave the NBA for college. The only way Hornacek would likely be willing to join Iowa State is if he’s seriously concerned about his job security following the Suns’ disappointing 2014-15 campaign.

Otzelberger seems like the obvious choice for now, but Underwood or Drew could be potential replacements for Hoiberg. With a very talented roster in place, Iowa State provides an excellent opportunity for any head coach in the coming years.