Move over, Fred Hoiberg. Another college star with ties to the state of Iowa is coaching in the big leagues.

The Toronto Raptors compiled the Eastern Conference's best regular season record with 59 wins this past season. Despite that accomplishment, they were swept out of the NBA playoffs in 4 games by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The controversial decision was then made by the Raptors to fire coach Dwayne Casey. Their search has led to an unconventional name, yet one very familiar to basketball fans in the state of Iowa.

Nick Nurse was a standout at Northern Iowa from 1985-89, and is now a head coach at his sport's highest level. Nurse spent the last 5 years as an assistant in Toronto, after stints at Grand View college in Des Moines and a dozen years in the British Basketball League.

Best of luck to this UNI legend in his pursuit to maintain and expand upon the success of the Toronto Raptors.

[Via Gazette]

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