In early June 2010, Iowa State’s future was out of its hands and held by six universities that were considering an exit from the Big 12 for the Pac-10. Athletic director Jamie Pollard saw the situation clearly and understood where his program stood in the college sports landscape.
“What we saw in that moment was how vulnerable we were,” Pollard told The Athletic. “If the Big 12 would have fell apart at that moment in time, it would have been devastating, not only to our athletics program, but to this university. So, it was a little bit of, like, a wake-up call, like, ‘Wow, that’s how close we were to being relegated.’”
Urgency fueled Pollard to build a better athletics regime if the Cyclones hoped to remain in a power conference. From that moment on, Pollard established himself as the most important and impactful athletics department figure in the school’s history.
Pollard, who announced his retirement from Iowa State on Friday, saw contributions jump from $7.5 million in fiscal year 2010 to nearly $53 million in 2025-26. At Jack Trice Stadium, the football program has drawn 50,000-plus fans for 91 consecutive home games, a mark it had never even averaged in a season before 2011. Men’s basketball supporters have filled Hilton Coliseum to near capacity over the past decade-plus, creating a raucous home environment.
Over the past 12 years, the Cyclones have employed three of their greatest coaches — all hired by Pollard. Former football coach Matt Campbell enjoyed unprecedented success before leaving for Penn State in December. Men’s basketball coaches Fred Hoiberg (former) and T.J. Otzelberger (current) have become beloved figures who have produced Sweet 16 appearances. Although financial difficulties remain, Pollard steered Iowa State through the pandemic season without borrowing money while the football program earned its first top-10 postseason ranking.
When adversity struck, Pollard always met the moment. And the university enjoyed a golden era of success under his leadership.
“Jamie Pollard’s bold vision has produced the most sustained period of academic and athletic excellence in Iowa State’s Athletics history, and Cyclones everywhere are incredibly grateful for his leadership, passion and dedication to our university,” Iowa State president David Cook said in a statement.
Athletic directors are judged by the coaches they hire, the department’s financial profile, the facilities they build and the scandals they endure. At Iowa State, there is a fifth category: the vibes they provide. And that’s what separates Pollard from his peers.
In the decades preceding Pollard’s arrival from Wisconsin in 2005, Iowa State athletics enjoyed spikes of success with colorful personalities but too often failed to build consistency or engage anyone beyond hardcore supporters. Pollard changed Iowa State’s approach from summer golf outings to statewide caravans that engaged families. At Jack Trice Stadium, the Cyclones invested in amenities such as wider concourses and enclosing the south end zone, which in turn led to revenue-generating opportunities and better experiences. In all, Iowa State has invested more than $400 million in new facility construction and renovations.
“Those first couple years, we had more Porta Potties inside the stadium than we had outside the stadium because we didn’t have restrooms,” said Pollard, who will remain in his role until Iowa State names his replacement.
Most importantly, Pollard tapped into fan emotions to generate pride that often lay dormant. After Iowa State football beat Iowa in 2005, he commissioned a billboard in Cedar Rapids — Iowa’s second-largest city, located just 20 miles north of Iowa City — that read “It’s A Cyclone State.” It served its purpose in two ways: It allowed an underserved group of fans to brag while taking a shot at the Hawkeyes. Whether it was his in-state rival, Big 12 officiating, or more recently with the Big Ten and SEC, Pollard went to battle publicly for his Cyclones. In turn, he rallied his supporters and rankled his opposition. It gave him credibility with a fan base that wanted to feel good about itself.
In building that equity, Pollard convinced fans that buying single-game tickets wasn’t going to elevate Iowa State athletics. They needed consistent season ticket sales and contributions to keep up with their foes and build a competitive program. Supporters responded, which helped Iowa State retain coaches beyond what most would have expected. Campbell nearly accepted jobs at Florida State and with the Detroit Lions but ultimately stayed 10 years. Recently, Otzelberger rebuffed overtures from North Carolina and other programs to stay in Ames. Both received ample compensation coupled with immense fan support.
That’s not to say there weren’t controversies. How Pollard handled women’s gymnastics from his hiring to the sport’s termination this spring deserves immense criticism. Some coaches have described his management style as heavy-handed. He’s thin-skinned and doesn’t respond well to scrutiny. But to prosper in college athletics, everything is reciprocal, from revenue to great coaches and, ultimately, competitive success. If you take out one piece, the entire structure can fall apart — if someone doesn’t hold it together. At Iowa State, Pollard held it all together, and he did it better than anyone else.
