When current ISU women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly was hired, the athletic department had to pull him away from the University of Toledo.

In its search for a new director of player development, the team didn’t have to go any farther than the Fennelly family itself.

It was announced Friday, Billy Fennelly, Bill Fennelly’s son, was hired to become the new director of player development, a position he held for the previous two seasons for Northwestern University’s women’s basketball team.

“It’s been a dream of mine to work with my dad, and I am excited to have the opportunity to sit on the bench with him again,” Fennelly said in a news release. “[Former ISU guard Lyndsey Medders] and I are very excited to come back to Ames and Iowa State since it is such a special place to both of us. I believe the experience I’ve gotten working in three BCS conferences over the past four years has given me the confidence to take this position with a program that has had some of its greatest success in school history over the past two seasons.”

This hiring comes with much excitement from both father and son. Billy Fennelly’s dad was more than grateful for the opportunity to work with his son.

“When I look for a new member of our staff, the number one priority is loyalty to Iowa State and our program,” Bill Fennelly said in a news release. “The next thing I look for is a skill set, combined with great passion for the job. That person for the director of player development is without a doubt Billy Fennelly. It is a dream come true for me to coach with my son, and I thank Iowa State for making this happen.”

Billy Fennelly brings with him a resume that includes stints at Northwestern University as well as one season on the staff that guided the University of Maryland to the 2007-2008 NCAA Regional Final.