With the UNC head coaching job now open, already there are rumors as to who might be on the short list for one of the best jobs in college basketball. Given the strength of the Big 12, it’s only natural that some of the coaches in the conference have wound up on the odds list to be the next head coach in Chapel Hill. Iowa State’s TJ Otzelberger and Tommy Lloyd have found themselves on most lists, and near the top, along with Billy Donovan, who is now the head coach of the Chicago Bulls.
But for Otzelberger and Tommy Lloyd, as both prepare for the Sweet 16 this week, there were two different responses on Wednesday, and one was much more clear than the other.
Iowa State’s Response
First up, it was Otz himself who called any job rumors “not true”. He was pretty clear about it.
Then, a couple hours later, Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard could not have been more direct when he posted this on X on Wednesday.
There’s no way Jamie would be that direct if he wasn’t all but guaranteed that Otzelberger was not going anywhere. Otzelberger’s odds on the betting site, Kalshi, dropped from around 18% to 8% on the news, with now several coaches with better odds to land the UNC job.
Arizona’s Response
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd was asked about the UNC job on Thursday, as his team gets set to play Arkansas on Thursday night. He said, “I already have one of the best jobs in the country. One thing we talk about in our program all the time is the ability to have full focus and be present in the moment. “This team deserves my full focus. There’s not one thing that is going to knock me off my path. I am 100 percent focused on Arizona basketball and this program.”
Now, maybe it’s just a leverage play? Sure, that’s possible. But for what it’s worth, as of Wednesday night, Kalshi now has given Tommy Lloyd the best odds to be the next UNC head coach at 31%, up over 10 points from earlier in the day.
This doesn’t mean Tommy Lloyd is going anywhere, but let’s just say he didn’t say anything to calm the rumor down. And that’s his right. He’s had an awesome season at Arizona and deserves a sizable raise. But first, they can’t get bounced before a Final 4. I said before the Tournament that it was Final 4 or bust for Tommy Lloyd in the West Region. But if he wins two games this weekend, Arizona is going to have to possibly fight off the Tar Heels. We’ll see if they’re able to do it.
