Ex-Cyclone coach Fred Hoiberg really, really hated recruiting

So Fred Hoiberg hated college recruiting. Not-so-breaking news.

He’s an NBA guy. He said that from his very first official day as Iowa State’s coach, when he told reporters how many NBA general managers he had on speed dial. He's a former NBA player. He's a former NBA executive. He's presently the Chicago Bulls' coach.

But hated college recruiting? That’s what it said in a tweet from Keith Smith, of NBA FRONT OFFICE and included in a brief story on Sporting News website. 

A lot of college coaches dislike going into strangers' homes, telling people how great they can be, traveling all over the country (and even to Greece, in Hoiberg’s case), and sometimes even being lied to.

Still, hate is a strong word. Is that really how he feels?

When you’re recruiting at the highest level, as Hoiberg did during five seasons as Iowa State’s basketball coach, you run across people with their hands out — not necessarily recruits, but adults overseeing high-level players being recruited.

Sure, we’ll consider your team — but it’ll cost you.

It happens. It happens everywhere. Some pay — maybe not always monetarily, but sometimes with other inducements like ... Well, you get the point.

Most don’t, and Hoiberg was among that majority. He’s from a wonderful family. He was brought up the right way. There was never any cloud of suspicion hovering over Fred’s recruiting practices.Still, his staff — which, back then, consisted of T.J. Otzelberger, Matt Abdelmassih and Cornell Mann — recruited great players to Iowa State. Guys like Monte Morris, Royce White, Melvin Ejim, Naz Long, Matt Thomas, Georges Niang, Dustin Hogue, DeAndre Kane, Chris Allen, Korie Lucious, Chris Babb, Abdel Nader, Deonte Burton, Jameel McKay, Tyrus McGee and on and on.

Hoiberg was usually the closer, hopping in his car or onto a small plane late on a snowy Iowa night. He'd hope to reach his destination without much hassle. He sealed deals with handshakes — not handouts.

A few times he mentioned that he could do without social media. But hate recruiting?

He’s certainly not alone.

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson has been with the Register for parts of five decades. Randy writes opinion and analysis of Iowa State football and basketball. You can reach Randy at rpeterson@dmreg.com or on Twitter at @RandyPete.