Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard announces retirement plans

Jamie Pollard says he will retire as Iowa State University’s director of athletics next year.

ISU made the announcement Friday morning, saying his retirement will be effective June 30, 2027 — or when a new athletics director is in place.

“My wife, Ellen, and I look forward to the next chapter in our life’s journey,” Pollar said in a news release, “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. I am grateful to President (David) 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.

Pollard has been at Iowa State for 22 years.

“When we moved to Ames in 2005, we did not anticipate the impact being a Cyclone would have on our family,” he said. “The personal and professional opportunities our family has experienced during the past 21 years have been truly amazing.”

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A national search for the next ISU AD will start “after listening sessions with representative stakeholders from across the ISU Athletics community are conducted,” the university said in a release.

“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,” Cook said in the release. “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.

“Although our time working together was short, I have a keen understanding of what Jamie has meant to our university and community. He leaves behind a tremendous foundation, culture and track-record of success. On behalf of all Iowa Staters, I want to thank Jamie for doing an exceptional job.”