Fred Hoiberg
A hometown hero who earned the nickname 'the Mayor' for his local popularity before becoming a respected NBA player and innovative coach.
Born 1972 (age 54)·American basketball player and coach·Birthday: October 15·Generation X
Biography
Fred Hoiberg's story is woven into the fabric of Ames, Iowa. He wasn't just a local kid who made good; he became a beloved figure at Iowa State University, where his court savvy and clutch shooting earned him the enduring moniker 'the Mayor.' His professional journey took him through a solid decade in the NBA, known as a sharp-shooting wing for the Pacers, Bulls, and Timberwolves. After hanging up his sneakers, Hoiberg transitioned smoothly into the front office before returning to the bench. His coaching philosophy, marked by a fast-paced, analytical offense, found its first major stage back at his alma mater, Iowa State, where he revitalized the program. Later, he took his system to the Chicago Bulls, navigating the pressures of the league, before returning to the collegiate ranks to lead Nebraska, aiming to build another winner from the ground up.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Fred was born in 1972, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Fred Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Fred's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Turned 21
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 40
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 50
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 54 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 10 seasons in the NBA for the Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, and Minnesota Timberwolves.
- Served as head coach of the NBA's Chicago Bulls from 2015 to 2018.
- Led the Iowa State Cyclones to four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances as head coach, including a Sweet Sixteen run in 2014.
- Named First-team All-Big Eight in 1995 after a standout college career at Iowa State.
Did You Know?
His grandfather, Jerry Bush, was the head men's basketball coach at the University of Nebraska from 1954 to 1963.
He underwent open-heart surgery in 2005 to repair an enlarged aortic root, a condition discovered during an NBA physical.
Hoiberg led the NBA in three-point shooting percentage during the 2004-05 season, making 48.3% of his attempts.
“I always played with a chip on my shoulder, proving I belonged on the court.”
