Fred Hoiberg, one of my favorite NCAA coaches, received a much deserved raise today (assuming, of course, your support the notion of college coaches making millions of dollars per year), ESPN reported.
"We are pleased to come to terms on a revised contact with Coach Hoiberg and his agent so quickly," Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard said. "We hope our commitment to him will keep him at Iowa State University for the rest of his career."
Hoiberg signed a 10-year, $200 million contract in 2013. The raise will add $600,000 per year, according to ESPN.
After four seasons at Iowa State, Hoiberg has maintained or improved the Cyclones' record every year. His first season they were .500, the next two years they were 23-11 (12-6) and 23-12 (11-7), respectively, and this season they went 28-8 (11-7) in the ultra-competitive Big 12. For their excellent season, they Cyclones earned a three-seed in the NCAA tournament. They lost to eventual champion Connecticut in the Sweet Sixteen. In the previous two seasons, the Cyclones lost in the second round.
You knew Hoiberg was a good coach before his breakout 2013-14 season based on the bizarre NBA career of former Cyclone Royce White. The 16th pick in the 2012 NBA draft, White's been more of an advocate for mental health than a basketball player in his first few "seasons." That Hoiberg was able to get two solid years out of White while earning the embattled player's trust was a major indication of his competency and professionalism.
Another reason why Hoiberg seems like such a good fit in Iowa is that he was a four-year starter for the Cyclones in the early 1990s. His last two seasons he averaged 20 points per game.
Hoiberg is also semi-rare among college coaches in that he recently played professionally. Given former pro Kevin Ollie's success at UConn, maybe the college game is the right place for newly retired NBA players.
