AMES, Iowa – Iowa State men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger has named former Cyclone Diante Garrett as a new assistant coach. Garrett will begin his duties with the Cyclones immediately.

“Diante will be a great addition to our program,” Otzelberger said. “His experience playing for Iowa State, and his time in the NBA, will greatly impact the development of our student-athletes. This will be a great start to Diante’s coaching career. We’re excited to have the caliber of person Diante is around our players, both on and off the court.”

Garrett played for the Cyclones from 2007-11, starting 99 of the 128 games he appeared in. He averaged 10.7 points, 4.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game over the course of his career. He earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors as a senior in 2011, while also being named to the USBWA All-District VI Team. In his final campaign in Ames, he went for 17.3 points, 6.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He was one of two players in the country to average over 17 points and six assists per game. He led the Big 12 in assists, becoming the first Cyclone since Jacy Holloway in 1996-97 to lead the league in assists.

Following his time in Ames, he spent 12 years playing professionally before recently announcing his retirement. He played in Croatia and France from 2011-12 before joining the Phoenix Suns for the 2012-13 season. He appeared in 19 games for the Suns, while also sharing time in the NBA G League with the Bakersfield Jam. He spent the 2013-14 season with the Utah Jazz, appearing in 71 games for the Jazz. The Milwaukee native averaged 3.5 points, 1.7 assists and 1.4 rebounds for the Jazz, while shooting 37.5 percent from downtown. He played the 2014-15 season with the Iowa Energy and parts of 2015 with Grand Rapids Drive in the NBA G League before spending the final nine years of his career overseas. Garrett was named a G League All-Star in 2014-15.

Garrett won multiple league championships during his career, including Croatian League Champion (2011), Italian Cup Champion (2018) and Greek Super Cup Champion (2020). He also was named All-Japanese League Second Team in 2017, while also being a Japanese League All-Star.

No. 3 Iowa State opens Big 12 play Monday at Colorado. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. (CT) on CBS Sports Network.

It’s 18th ranked Iowa State against 13th ranked Miami in Saturday’s Pop Tarts Bowl in Orlando. Miami quarterback Cam Ward has passed for more than 41 hundred yards and 36 touchdowns.

That is ISU coach Matt Campbell who says Ward also has great mobility.

A victory would secure Iowa State’s first ever 11-win season.

The third ranked Iowa State men’s basketball team resumed practice in Ames, today, as the Cyclones get ready for the start of Big 12 play. ISU is 10-1 and starts a 20-game conference slate on Monday at Colorado.

That’s Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger who says one of the keys in a conference race is to not look at the big picture.

In a season of firsts Iowa State gets a chance to establish one more in Saturday’s Pop Tarts Bowl in Orlando against 13th ranked Miami. The 18th ranked Cyclones are 10-3 and a victory would secure the program’s first 11-win season.

That’s ISU defensive coordinator Jon Heacock (hay-cock) who says the Cyclones are looking to bounce back after a loss to Arizona State in the Big 12 championship game.

Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser says the Cyclones would love to end the season with a win.

Mouser says an 11-win season would be a great step for the program.

Iowa State receiver Jaylin Noel says preparation is the key as the Cyclones get ready for Saturday’s Pop Tarts Bowl against Miami in Orlando. ISU is 10-3 and ranked 18th. Miami is 10-2 and ranked 13th.

Noel says the Miami defense will provide a tough challenge.

Noel on the emotions of playing his final game in a Cyclone uniform.

Iowa linebacker Nick Jackson says the opportunity to play college football has fulfilled a lifelong dream. The transfer is wrapping up his second year with the Hawkeyes after transferring from Virginia and Monday’s Music City Bowl against Missouri will be his 73rd collegiate game, an NCAA record.

Jackson says he has had the opportunity to build several relationships that will last a lifetime.

Jackson says there are a lot of people behind the scenes that help make the student athlete experience special.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Officials with Drake University, this week, announced Joe Woodley, one of the most accomplished coaches in the history of NAIA football, is the new head football coach at Drake.  Athletics Director Brian Hardin announced the decision on Monday, December 23rd.

A native of Clive, Iowa, Woodley comes to Drake after spending the last 17 years across town at Grand View University. He began his tenure at Grand View as an assistant for over a decade, coordinating both offense and defense at different stages, and has spent the last six seasons as the Vikings’ head coach, replacing his father, Mike.

“I am humbled and honored to be the head football coach at Drake University,” Woodley said. “I look forward to working at a first-class institution, coaching at the FCS level, and the challenge to help take this program to heights it has never been. Most importantly, I look forward to working with the players to help them reach their potential on and off the field.”

Woodley guided the Vikings to an undefeated season in 2024, punctuated by winning Grand View’s second NAIA national championship last Saturday. Woodley was an assistant coach with the 2013 Vikings team that capped an undefeated season with the school’s first football title. In his six seasons as head coach, Woodley led the Vikings to the NAIA quarterfinals twice, the NAIA semifinals twice, and two NAIA title games. He amassed a record of 72-5 and never lost a regular season game.

Individually, Woodley was named North Division Conference Head Coach of the Year in 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024. As offensive coordinator in 2018, Woodley’s bunch was ranked in the top 25 nationally in points per game, rushing yards per game, and yards per game. Prior to that, Woodley coordinated a top 10 defense in nine seasons and was named the 2009 MSFA Midwest Assistant Coach of the Year and 2013 Football Scoop Coordinator of the Year.

In 2024, Woodley was one of 30 coaches identified by ESPN as coaches who will “define the next decade of college football.” He was one of only four non-FBS coaches selected and the only coach from the NAIA.

He has also coached over 60 All-HAAC selections, seven AFCA All-Americans, six Heart of America Athletic Conference Players of the Year, five Heart of America Athletic Conference Offensive Players of the Year, and four Heart of America Athletic Conference Defensive Players of the Year. Most recently, Woodley helped quarterback Jackson Waring earn the 2024 NAIA Football Player of the Year award, the division’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.

“We are thrilled to add Joe Woodley to our athletics department as the next leader of our football program,” Hardin said. “Joe is a championship coach who will add to the championship culture that exists within our football team and athletics department. Joe develops young men on and off the field, has significant name recognition in our region, and is widely considered a rising star in the coaching profession. We could not be more excited for Joe, Jen, and their kids to join our Drake Athletics family.”

Joe Woodley (Drake University press release photo)

Prior to his time at Grand View, Woodley served as the defensive line and linebackers coach at Johnston High School under his brother, Brian. Before coaching the Dragons, he spent two seasons coaching the same positions at St. Ambrose University and helped the Fighting Bees to a 15-5 record and top 10 national defensive rating.

Woodley was an elite prep player at Valley High School, where he graduated in 1999. He was named a First Team All-State Linebacker and Central Iowa Metro League Player of the Year as a season. As a collegian, Woodley competed at Iowa State and captained the Cyclones to three bowl appearances from 1999-2003.

Drake will host an introductory press conference marking Woodley’s official welcome on Sunday, Dec. 29 in the Morrison Room within the Knapp Center. Woodley’s availability will start at 1 p.m., and then will be introduced to Bulldog fans at the Drake men’s basketball game that afternoon

Iowa State offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser says the Miami defense is a concern as they get ready for Saturday’s Pop Tarts Bowl. The Cyclones and Hurricanes collide in Orlando.

Mouser says a victory would help provide momentum into the off-season.

Iowa center Logan Jones says one more year in college will help him at the next level. The native of Council Bluffs was an All-Big Ten selection this season and has decided to return for a fourth season as a starter.

Jones says he started thinking about his future in the middle of the season.

The Hawkeyes take an 8-4 record into Monday’s Music City Bowl against Missouri in Nashville.

ST. LOUIS, Mo –For the third time this season, and second week in a row, Drake’s Katie Dinnebier has been named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week, the league announced this morning.

Dinnebier had another sensational week for the Bulldog with an average of 20.5 points, 7.0 assists, 4.0 assists, and 3.5 steals in a pair of Drake victories. She started the week with just nine points against USC Upstate, but her offensive prowess was not needed as Drake dominated the Spartans, 84-34. Dinnebier did tally a career-high six steals vs. Upstate.

She took her game back to an elite level in Drake’s most recent tilt, a 92-81 win at St. Thomas. The senior guard poured in 32 points for her fifth career 30-point performance and dished out 10 assists for her eighth-career double-double. She also snared three steals and went 4-of-9 from 3-point range. Dinnebier is now averaging 18.6 points, 7.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.4 steals on the season.

MVC Women’s Basketball Weekly Award Winner – Dec. 23

Player of the Week – Katie Dinnebier, Drake

Newcomer of the Week – Kendall Holmes, Belmont

Freshman of the Week – Camryn Runner, Evansville

Dinnebier and the Bulldogs will return to the court after the holiday break with a road tilt at Evansville on Dec. 29. That matchup will tip off Drake’s MVC schedule for the year.