Las Vegas, NV (KXNT) - For the second time in three years, UNLV will look far and wide for another head men's basketball coach.
Head coach T.J. Otzelberger resigned from his UNLV job on Thursday to accept the head coaching position at Iowa State. Otzelberger was an assistant there for eight years.
Iowa State fired Steve Prohm on Monday, after six seasons. Otzelberger was on Prohm's staff for one season in 2015 before taking over the head coaching job at South Dakota State the next year. His wife Alison was a star basketball player at Iowa State from 2006-2010, and was the university's highest-ever draft choice in the WNBA.
"I want to thank our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and fans for a memorable two years at UNLV and in the Las Vegas community," Otzelberger said. "I especially want to thank Desiree Reed-Francois for providing me with the incredible honor of leading the Runnin' Rebels. These decisions are never easy, but Alison and I are excited to return to Iowa State where we started our family and spent so many formative years."
Otzelberger's brief two-year tenure at UNLV ends with a 29-30 record, with a 20-6 mark in the Mountain West Conference.
"When our coaches are being pursued by others, it is a testament to what we are building," said Reed-Francois. "We appreciate Coach Otzelberger's contributions to our men's basketball program and we wish T.J. and his family all the best as they continue their journey."
In a taped statement announcing Otzelberger's hiring, Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard says UNLV tried to keep Otzelberger from leaving with a contract extension pitch Wednesday night.
UNLV says it will immediately begin a national search for a new coach.