NBA Rumors: Fred Hoiberg won’t guarantee a return to Iowa State
Fred Hoiberg told a recruit that he was unsure whether or not he would return to Iowa State next season.
It looks like people in Ames should be pretty nervous.
Fred Hoiberg, coach of the Iowa State Cyclones, told five-star prospect Cheick Diallo that he could not guarantee that he would return to Ames for the 2015-2016 season. Diallo, who eventually committed to the University of Kansas, was told by Hoiberg that his future at Iowa State is uncertain.
Where could Hoiberg be headed? The consensus of NBA minds is Chicago, Illinois.
After bowing out with an embarrassing game 6 loss in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Bulls officially fired head coach Tom Thibodeau on Thursday.
Hoiberg, who played for the Bulls during his NBA career, seems like the most likely fit.
Not only does Hoiberg have history on his side, he also has a respectable college coaching resume. At Iowa State, Hoiberg installed and executed a pro-style offense. The Cyclones managed to collect 99 wins and four NCAA tournament appearances in the past four years. Though they repeatedly fell flat come March, Hoiberg took the program from a team with just three conference wins five seasons ago, to one that is ranked in the top 10 coming into the 2015-2016 season.
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Though it seems as though Hoiberg has one foot out the door, there are a couple of factors that could keep him in Ames.
First, Hoiberg is quite literally the Mayor of Ames. Seriously, that’s what people call him. Not only did he grow up in Ames, he attended and became a college star at Iowa State. He certainly has roots in central Iowa.
Also, Hoiberg, who is just 42-years-old, recently had heart surgery. Being a college coach is stressful, no doubt, but coaching in the NBA makes college look like a walk in the park. Before taking the job, he’d have to make sure his health would not be put in jeopardy.
Lastly, just look at how Thibs was treated. Despite impressive win totals and post-season performances, Thibs was unceremoniously fired – and he was raked over the coals in the process. Friction between Thibodeau and the front office, Gar Forman and John Paxson, was well documented throughout the season.
For Hoiberg not to leave Iowa State, its seems like one of these factors would have to overrule the big money and notoriety that the Bulls job would bring.
Surely fans in Ames are holding their collective breath.