CEDAR RAPIDS — Iowa State coaches moved around the floor at the U.S. Cellular Center Thursday night glad-handing, chit-chatting and giving the fan base some words to chew on and get them through the offseason.
Fred Hoiberg — the Cyclones’ newest rock star — didn’t move more than five feet. For a solid hour.
And the line to share a story or snap a family picture with Hoiberg as its centerpiece was still around the corner by the time he had to hit the stage. Hoiberg’s first appearance at ISU’s summer Tailgate Tour was a mob scene, and that’s a good thing.
“Man, look at that line,” Voice of the Cyclones John Walters said from the other side of the room.
Before being swarmed by adoring fans, Hoiberg talked with reporters about his first two weeks on the job:
ANY MORE ADDITIONS TO NEXT YEAR’S RECRUITING CLASS?
“We want to make sure we’re giving (scholarships) to the right guys. You bring a guy in and give him four years, he’d better be able to play for you. There’s some people we have our eye on. We’ll continue to monitor that.”
CLOSE TO FILLING OUT COACHING STAFF?
“My next hire will be somebody who has head coaching experience and has been successful at the college level. I’ve been watching a lot of flim of some coaches who have had a lot of years in the NCAA. There are some people out there that have a lot of the same things that I want to do.
Hoiberg said no offers have been extended, but they are not far off.
“I’ve got a couple of guys in mind.”
WHAT WILL JEFF GRAYER BE DOING AS A MEMBER OF THE STAFF?
“I don’t know exactly what role I’m going to have for everybody. I’m still sorting through that. Jeff is going to play a big part in what we are doing. It’s very beneficial to have two guys in Ames who have had a lot of success… When I was playing we always had players from Flint and the Detroit area. Jeff knows a lot of people and can definitely make those contacts.”
HOW IS SCHEDULING GOING?
“We’re pretty close to being done. We have a couple more games to get on the schedule.”
Will it be on the light side considering the shape the roster is in?
“I don’t know if anything is light.”