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Jamie Pollard Retiring as Iowa State Athletics Director
Pollard said the move will give Iowa State time to transition leadership during a period of change in college athletics.
On Friday, July 10, 2026, Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard announced he will retire after 22 years, stepping down on June 30, 2027, or sooner if a replacement is hired.
Pollard, the longest-tenured active athletics director among Power 4 conferences, has overseen 24 Big 12 team titles across eight sports and the 40-acre CyTown mixed-use entertainment district since 2005.
Fundraising under Pollard surged from over $9 million annually to $53 million in 2025-26, while the department invested more than $400 million in facility upgrades including the $98 million Stark Performance Center opened in 2021.
Iowa State President David Cook praised Pollard's leadership as establishing "a tremendous foundation, culture and track-record of success," while the university will begin a national search for his replacement this fall.
The 61-year-old Pollard expressed desire to enjoy "next" while healthy and young, stating he and his wife "look forward to the next chapter" after 21 years building Iowa State's athletics program in Ames.