With 14 video games determined by single digits and 4 settled in time beyond regulation, the one factor tighter than the primary two rounds of this yr’s NCAA males’s event is T.J. Otzelberger’s shirt.
Otzelberger, 46, has led Iowa State into event play in every of his three seasons, twice reaching the Candy 16, to develop a popularity as top-of-the-line program builders within the Energy Six. The Cyclones posted a dropping document in three of the 4 years earlier than the previous Iowa State assistant was employed following two seasons as the top coach at UNLV, together with a winless mark in Large 12 play in 2020-21.
Otzelberger has pushed all the appropriate buttons for the No. 2-seeded Cyclones, who proceed event play on Thursday in opposition to No. 3 Illinois. And he’s accomplished so whereas straining his personal buttons to the purpose of exhaustion: Whereas different coaches in yr’s event have donned fits, half-zips and pullovers, Otzelberger has tucked into his slacks a collection of size-straddling, second-skin polo shirts which have made him a sartorial standout.
Not a small and never a medium, Otzelberger’s collared shirts appear to exist within the purgatory between these two sizes, often known as shmedium. The minimize will cling to his higher physique and inch up his arms, revealing impressively outlined forearms, biceps and triceps whereas leaving a whisper of house between his chin and an open high button.
As Otzelberger gesticulates alongside the sideline − and he famously by no means sits throughout video games, making him one of many extra lively coaches within the event − the quick sleeves climb up towards his shoulders, turning the polo into one thing extra carefully resembling a tank high.
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And whereas the 5-foot-11 Otzelberger was a two-time crew captain in basketball at Wisconsin-Whitewater, he admits his body extra carefully resembles that of a wrestler: compact, someplace between lean and musclebound, with a sturdy higher physique.
“We began at an even bigger measurement,” he mentioned, however like Goldilocks, Otzelberger needed to tinker throughout a number of choices earlier than discovering the match that was good.
“It may turn into difficult, as a result of I’ve obtained quick arms,” Otzelberger mentioned. “So in case you put on this measurement polo, the arms are lengthy and hanging down previous your elbows. When you put on this polo, it appears to be like smaller.”
Choosing the torso-hugging measurement “offers me a larger sense of self-discipline every day. That I put on that measurement and go for that, it helps me keep as disciplined and accountable as I must be to our program, sporting that shirt,” he mentioned.
Tight garments ship a message, in accordance with a research carried out by researchers within the division of psychology at Outdated Dominion College that discovered the fashion of costume was “predictive of perceived masculinity in males.”
“Your private fashion is the best way that you just converse with out saying a phrase,” mentioned Amanda Wooden, a picture advisor and inside designer.
“It isn’t that tight clothes is or isn’t out, it’s very a lot your private desire. After which for the observer after which society, we see very tight clothes as one thing we wouldn’t actually need to put on, as a result of it’s a really, like, instant message.”
For individuals who lean extra towards a basic and conservative match, a comfortable high may very well be seen as “you making an attempt to attract consideration to your self,” Wooden mentioned. “We’re undecided in case you personally really feel that it’s a fantastic look or in case you’re simply feeling the necessity to stand out in that method.”
For coaches who’ve drifted away from the normal suit-and-tie strategy in recent times, Wooden would counsel beginning with layering a pleasant button-down shirt and vest atop a pair of khakis with “a fantastic belt.” For footwear, she’d supply wingtip sneakers. A polo would work, Wooden mentioned, although not tight, “however tailor-made to you.”
This could be nearer to Otzelberger’s former fashion. He went with the extra standard look as the top coach at South Dakota State (2016-19) and UNLV (2019-21), however then switched to one thing extra informal throughout the COVID-19 abbreviated season. That was a part of a broader pattern amongst coaches on the faculty and NBA ranges, who by and huge have drifted nearer to athleisure apparel: unfastened pants and sneakers atop a pullover. Otzelberger has tried a quarter-zip high, however just one time earlier than going again to the short-sleeve shirts.
When he arrived again at Iowa State three years in the past, Otzelberger instituted a rule that everyone throughout the basketball program dressed the identical every day. At apply, for instance, each crew supervisor, assist staffer and assistant coach clothes identically: shorts, sneakers and tee shirts bearing the tenets of what he calls the crew’s Class 5 Tradition – gratitude, toughness, unity, enthusiasm and integrity.
“I’m a man who believes rather a lot in self-discipline, routine, accountability, day by day habits,” mentioned Otzelberger.
“It’s all the time fascinating when coaches demand the gamers put on a sure factor after which the coaches all the time put on one thing completely different. It’s all the time sort of caught with me. Like, what would I say to a participant on the crew if they are saying, why are all of the coaches sporting various things and why are we sporting the identical factor?”
So sure, there’s a goal to the polo.
“Our crew and our teaching employees is in unity,” he mentioned. “And a technique that we are able to present that’s via how we costume, what we put on and that we’re all on the identical web page and we’re all related. For us, we’ve taken a number of pleasure in all people doing that.”