Hornacek caught in middle of ISU basketball search

AMES - While Jeff Hornacek's name is entrenched in the rumor mill for the Iowa State basketball coach job, he found himself in the center of conflicting reports on the second official day of the search.

CycloneFanatic.com publisher Chris Williams reported the Phoenix Suns coach was contacted by Iowa State about the coaching vacancy, but denied the administration an interview.

Williams, who cited a close source to the situation, wrote, 'he has no interest in the job.”

A couple hours later, Steve Kauffman, Hornacek's agent replied in the comments section of the post on CycloneFanatic.com. He said, 'I will simply say this story is inaccurate. Jeff loves his alma mater and the facts are simply wrong here.”

The Ames Tribune reported it confirmed the commenter to indeed be Kauffman, who went on his post beneath the article. '(Iowa State) knew they had to request permission in a certain manner from the Phoenix Suns,” Kauffman wrote. 'I do not wish to allocate the blame as to the parties at fault here. But it's a shame.”

Hornacek, along with Murray State's Steve Prohm, Stephen F. Austin's Brad Underwood and ISU assistant T.J. Otzelberger to replace Fred Hoiberg. The former ISU coach officially became head coach of the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday.

l Comments: montzdylan@gmail.com