Iowa State extends AD Jamie Pollard’s contract through 2024

AMES - Iowa State University announced Tuesday it has extended athletics director Jamie Pollard's contract through 2024.

Pollard has been the head of the ISU athletics department since 2005 and is the third longest tenured athletics director among Big 12 schools.

'I am very grateful to (ISU president) Dr. (Steven) Leath for providing me the opportunity to continue in a role that I absolutely cherish,” Pollard said in a statement. 'The Iowa State community has been a terrific home for our family and this extension means we can keep building on the positive momentum that our coaches, staff and student-athletes have created. I am more excited about the future of Cyclone Athletics today than I have ever been.”

In 11-plus years at Iowa State, Pollard has helped build the Sukup Basketball Complex, Bergstrom Football Complex offices and renovated the south end zone at Jack Trice Stadium, among others. In all, the projects have totaled upwards of $160 million.

Pollard, per the release, has also eliminated the ISU athletics department's dependence on state funding, tripled annual fundraising efforts and helped lead Iowa State to the Big 12's top graduation rate - which was announced in November.

In his tenure, Pollard has hired three football coaches - Gene Chizik, Paul Rhoads and Matt Campbell - and three men's basketball coaches - Greg McDermott, Fred Hoiberg and Steve Prohm.

At the end of Pollard's extended contract, it would make him the ISU athletics director for nearly two decades, which would be the longest tenured AD in school history. The 2024 date is also the beginning of the school year that would see the current Big 12 Conference grant of rights agreement expire.

'Jamie is an exceptional leader who shares my vision for elevating the profile of Iowa State as a university known for excellence. His tenure is marked with unprecedented achievement and enthusiasm for Cyclone Athletics – both in competition and in the classroom. More importantly, Jamie has led this success with integrity, doing things the right way – the Cyclone Way,” Leath said in a statement. 'I am delighted that Jamie has agreed to serve another seven years as director of athletics. He recently outlined several major initiatives for the athletics department. This extension helps solidify the execution of that ambitious plan and an exciting future for Cyclone Nation.”

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