​AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State University’s athletics director, Jamie Pollard, has announced plans to retire next summer after a 22-year leadership tenure overseeing the Cyclones’ sports programs. Pollard, the longest-serving active athletics director among the Power 5 conferences, is slated to step down on June 30, 2027. The university said it will launch a nationwide search for his successor in the fall.
“My wife, Ellen, and I look forward to the next chapter in our life’s journey,” Pollard stated. “It is important to us that we transition now, while we are both healthy and young, so we can fully enjoy our retirement years.” He reflected on their time in Ames, noting, “When we moved to Ames in 2005, we did not anticipate the impact being a Cyclone would have on our family. The personal and professional opportunities our family has experienced during the past 21 years have been truly amazing.”
During Pollard’s tenure, Iowa State has captured 24 Big 12 team titles across eight sports. The football program has appeared in 11 bowl games, including a victory in the 2021 Fiesta Bowl under coach Matt Campbell, who joined the Cyclones in 2016 and enjoyed a successful decade before departing for Penn State in December. In men’s and women’s basketball, the teams have enjoyed sustained success as well, with the women reaching 17 NCAA Tournaments and the men appearing in 12. The Cyclones have also produced 24 NCAA individual champions during Pollard’s time at the helm.
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