Fred Hoiberg - a favorite son and native of Ames, a Cyclone basketball legend, a 10-year NBA veteran and, most recently, an executive with the Minnesota Timberwolves - was introduced Wednesday in front of a packed audience in the Jacobson Athletic Building as the 19th head men's basketball coach in Iowa State University history.

"The opportunity to return to my hometown and my alma mater can certainly be described as a dream come true," Hoiberg said. "I am very humbled to receive this opportunity and appreciate the confidence that Dr. (Gregory) Geoffroy and Jamie Pollard have shown in me. It's a Hollywood script for me to take the reins of a program that I cheered for as a kid, played for as a collegian and followed closely for more than a decade as an alum."

"Today, is certainly a proud day for all Cyclones as we welcome back a true legend," Iowa State Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said. "Four years ago, Fred expressed interest in our head coaching position and he's been on my short list ever since. It did not take very long for me to see his passion, his quiet confidence and his plan to have success in our men's basketball program. Based upon his personal experiences, Fred is better equipped and positioned than anyone to take the reins of this program."

"I am delighted to welcome back to campus one of the most revered student-athletes in Iowa State University history," President Dr. Gregory Geoffroy said. "We are all familiar and proud of the distinguished career of Fred. Bringing an All-American - both in the classroom and on the basketball court - back to our staff is cause for celebration and it's even more thrilling since he is a native son."

Hoiberg just completed his first year as Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves, a role in which he oversaw day-to-day operations of the basketball program including college and pro scouting, salary cap management and NBA Draft preparations. Prior to that, he worked three years as the club's assistant general manager.

It was Hoiberg's play at Hilton Coliseum in the 1990s, however, that endeared him to Cyclone fans. One of the school's most-admired competitors, Hoiberg averaged 15.8 points and is the school's third all-time leading scorer (1,993 points).

Part of Hoiberg's introduction to Cyclone basketball was as one of the school's first ball boys. In a game against Windsor in 1986, then ISU-star Jeff Hornacek landed on Hoiberg, sprained his ankle and missed the rest of the game. "Injuring the best player in school history wasn't how I wanted to be remembered," Hoiberg said later. Rest assured, his personal story soon turned for the better.

The versatile and heady guard/forward, who grew up in Ames, was called "The Mayor" by his teammates. As his popularity skyrocketed on campus and in his hometown, people started calling him simply "Fred" or "the Mayor" and you knew who they were talking about. That nickname was, apparently, appropriate evidenced by the fact he received multiple write-in votes in the 1993 Ames mayoral race.

The Cyclones won 78 games and played in three NCAA Tournaments in his career. Hoiberg's sweet stroke from long distance may have been his calling card, but his overall game was outstanding and fundamentally sound.

He played in 126 career games (the first three years for Coach Johnny Orr and the last one for Coach Tim Floyd) with the Cyclones and was a major contributor each year:

As a rookie, he earned A.P. Big Eight Freshman of the Year honors after scoring 12.1 ppg and establishing a school record with 34 consecutive made free throws. That Cyclone club made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1989.

In his second season, Hoiberg's role changed slightly and he was the top rebounder (6.3 rpg), despite standing just 6-foot-4, for another post-season team.

Hoiberg averaged 20.2 points per game, ranked in the conference's Top 10 in seven categories and was named second-team All-Big Eight as a junior.

In his senior season and second year as team captain, he led the Cyclones to a then-school record 23 wins and the NCAA Tournament's second round. Hoiberg, again, averaged 20.2 ppg on the way to All-America and first-team all-league honors. He was named co-Big Eight Male Athlete of the Year.

Hoiberg had many memorable games as a Cyclone. He poured in 32 points, including a remarkable 17 straight in the second half, of a 69-65 upset of third-ranked Kansas in 1995. Later that season, Hoiberg tallied a career-best 41 points in a conference win over Colorado. His three-point play (layup and then the game-winning free throw) with 9.4 seconds left helped ISU defeat second-ranked Oklahoma State 84-83 in overtime in 1992.

The contributions that Hoiberg made to both his school and home city have been recognized many times. His jersey #32 was retired by ISU in 1997 and hangs in the rafters at Hilton Coliseum. Hoiberg was inducted into the Iowa State Letterwinners' Hall of Fame in 2005 and recognized as part of the men's basketball program's All-Century team in 2008. On Feb. 9, 1997, Mayor Larry Curtis proclaimed it to be "Fred Hoiberg Day" during a Cyclone game.

Hoiberg was a second-round NBA draft pick (52nd overall) by the Indiana Pacers in 1995. He was also chosen #1 overall (by the Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets) in the 1995 CBA draft that year, but he joined the Pacers (where he played four seasons) to begin a decade long NBA career.

He also played for the Chicago Bulls (four years) and Minnesota Timberwolves (two years) and scored 2,944 points in 541 regular-season games. Hoiberg connected on a league-best 48.3 percent of his three-point shots in 2004-05 with Minnesota. But, his pro career ended abruptly at the age of 33 after under going open-heart surgery to repair an aneurysm in his aortic root. Hoiberg considered a comeback but, ultimately, accepted an administrative post with the Timberwolves.

Hoiberg readily admits his experiences in the NBA - playing for coaches such as Larry Brown and Larry Bird at Indiana, Tim Floyd in Chicago and Flip Saunders and Kevin McHale with Minnesota - helped shape his coaching beliefs.

"I've had some great mentors, as coaches, throughout my career," Hoiberg said. "You probably take a little bit from all of them and I've been blessed with some terrific teachers."

As a prep, Hoiberg starred in both basketball and football at Ames High School. He was named Iowa's Mr. Basketball as well as Gatorade's State Player of the Year in football as a quarterback. Hoiberg led the Little Cyclones to the 1991 state high school basketball championship and averaged 38.1 points in six tournament games.

Hoiberg earned his finance degree from Iowa State University in 1995. He was a first-team academic all-American as a senior, a second-team pick as a junior and a three-time honoree on the Big Eight all-academic team. There was certainly an academic background in his family as both of his parents - dad (Eric) at Iowa State and mom (Karen) in elementary school - had teaching careers.

Fred and his wife, Carol, met in high school and attended Iowa State together. They are the parents of four children (Paige, Jack and twins Sam and Charlie).

Hoiberg agreed to a five-year contract with a base salary of $800,000.

The new Cyclone head coach also said that T.J. Otzelberger and Jeff Grayer will be members of his staff. Otzelberger, who has been ISU's lead recruiter for four years, will serve as associate head coach. Among the players he recruited to Iowa State are Craig Brackins, Marquis Gilstrap, Diante Garrett and the four prospects who have signed National Letters of Intent in 2010. Grayer, the school's all-time leading scorer, was added to the staff last week and will be retained.

"We'll have an outstanding group of coaches at Iowa State and T.J. and Jeff are the first pieces of that puzzle," Hoiberg said. "I've known T.J. for several years and it was my top priority to keep him at Iowa State. As a talent evaluator and recruiter, there aren't many people in his class. Jeff's reputation as an outstanding person and player and a tremendous ambassador for this institution are important for the job ahead."