It's oftentimes tough for a legend to return to the court where they made their name, but through one season as Iowa St. Cyclones coach, Fred Hoiberg still has the adoration of the locals.
The Clones started out of the gate like gangbusters during Hoiberg's inaugural season at the helm of his alma mater last year. Going 13-2 in non-conference play, there were whispers in Ames that ISU could make waves in Big 12 play, but a 3-13 conference record and first round exit from the Big 12 conference tournament ended their season with an even 16-16 record.
Though the Cyclones didn't have the season they were hoping for on the court, Hoiberg was hard at work raiding the waiver wire and bringing in a multitude of transfers.
As a former NBA player in three Midwestern towns, Hoiberg had the most success with former Big 10 players. Including former Michigan St. Spartans Chris Allen and Korie Lucious, former Minnesota Golden Gopher Royce White and former Penn State Nittany Lion Chris Babb, ISU will have seven transfers on this year's squad and it appears that Hoiberg is hoping for quick success with transfers, then building upon any momentum with grabbing high school freshman.
Nicknamed The Mayor, because he received write-in votes for the 1993 Ames mayoral election, Hoiberg has always been a larger than life figure in Central Iowa. If he can bring the same pride back to the Cyclones that resonated throughout the campus during his playing days, Hoiberg could find himself knighted by Clone fans.
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