Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard announces Iowa State women’s wrestling program and new head coaches for men’s and women’s wrestling coaches during a press conference at Hilton Coliseum on April. 16, 2026, in Ames, Iowa Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard announced his retirement on Friday after a 22-year career in Ames.
The 61-year-old Pollard’s retirement will go into effect on June 30, 2027, or whenever his position is filled.
Hired in 2005, he is the longest-tenured AD in Cyclones history and the longest-serving active AD among the Power 4 conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC).
“My wife, Ellen, and I look forward to the next chapter in our life’s journey, and 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 said. “I am grateful to President Cook for allowing me to share this news now and hopefully it will allow the university plenty of time to properly transition new leadership to our department during a transformational time in college athletics.
“When we moved to Ames in 2005, we did not anticipate the impact being a Cyclone would have on our family,” he added. “The personal and professional opportunities our family has experienced during the past 21 years have been truly amazing.”
The Cyclones have thrived in the classroom and on the athletic fields and courts during his tenure, including winning 24 Big 12 team titles in eight different sports and crowning 24 NCAA individual champions.
“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,” said ISU President David Cook. “His leadership has established a culture that has elevated our athletics program academically and athletically to incredible heights while continuing to be a loyal advocate for our student-athletes, coaches and staff.”
Athletics fundraising has soared from just over $9 million the year before Pollard’s arrival to a school-record $53 million in 2025-26, according to the school.
Before joining Iowa State, Pollard was an associate AD and deputy AD at Wisconsin (1998-2005) and an associate AD at Maryland (1994-98) and Saint Louis (1989-94).
–Field Level Media
