Wendell Barnhouse is a nationally-known and respected columnist who has spent over 20 years covering collegiate athletics. He has reported from 24 Final Fours and more than three dozen bowl games and has written about the Big 12 and its schools since the conference's beginning. Barnhouse will be updating the Big 12 Insider on happenings and behind-the-scenes information about the conference.
Let’s review the Cliff’s Notes version of the Fred Hoiberg Story.
Born in Ames, Iowa. Was the quarterback of the football team, led the basketball team to the state championship, named Mr. Basketball in Iowa. Attended Iowa State, became an All-American, acquired the iconic nickname “The Mayor.” Played 10 years in the NBA. Named Cyclones’ head coach in 2010 … with no prior coaching experience. Iowa State has made NCAA Tournament each of the last two years.
Your Humble Correspondent would say, “OK, great story, great life so far. No need to push it, Fred.”
But playing in a Coaches Vs. Cancer golf tournament Monday, Hoiberg made the first hole-in-one of his career. He aced a par-3 with a wedge from 135 yards.
Here’s what The Mayor Tweeted: “Awesome day at coaches vs cancer. Got my 1st ever hole in 1 and more importantly raised over $120K for a gr8 cause!” His Tweet included the pictorial evidence of his ace, which can be seen to the right of this article.
Earlier this summer in Mexico, Hoiberg had a double eagle on a 555-yard par-5 when he holed a 3-wood. The United States Golf Association figures the odds of a double eagle to be one in 1 million. The odds of getting a hole-in-one are said to be 1 in 13,000. (YHC suggests to The Mayor this would be a good time to buy some lottery tickets.)
In 2011, Hoiberg won the Shots from the Heart free-throw shooting contest, a charity event pitting college head coaches. The Mayor missed just one of 253 free throws during the competition.
On behalf of the rest of us, YHC will mimic Wayne and Garth, “We are not worthy.”
