AMES, Iowa — Iowa State Athletics Director Jamie Pollard received a five-year contract extension, securing his place through June 2030.

Iowa State University President Dr. Wendy Wintersteen announced the extension on Friday saying in Pollards two decades at Iowa State he has transformed athletics.

“During Jamie’s 20 years, the university has celebrated all-time program bests academically and athletically, and significant growth in attendance,” Wintersteen said. “He has built a culture of success at Iowa State, while navigating the many changes in collegiate athletics. I also appreciate Jamie’s efforts to create a new vision for the Iowa State Center and athletic facilities through the CyTown entertainment district concept.”

Pollard is the nation’s third-longest serving active Power Four Director of Athletics and Iowa State’s longest-tenured director of athletics in history. As director, he leads 18-sport intercollegiate athletic programs and works to optimize the fan experience for Cyclones.

“I am humbled to have had the opportunity to lead our athletics program for the past 20 years,” Pollard said. “The administration’s support, led by President Wintersteen and General Counsel Mike Norton, has been instrumental in our success. We have an amazing culture in our athletics program, led by our talented and dedicated coaches and staff.  Although our industry is undergoing transformational change, I am confident our department will successfully embrace these challenges with the same energy and urgency that has proven to be successful in the past.”

Athletics programs have soared under his direction with Iowa State Football seeing its first 11-win season in program history, men’s basketball spending the entire 2024-25 season in the Top Ten, and the men’s cross-country team ranking second in the 2024 NCAA Championships.

Pollard demands excellence from athletes both on the field and in the classroom, establishing a school-record Graduation Success Rate score for 10-consective years. His work has improved the 77% graduation rate in 2014 up to 95% for the past three years. Iowa State has earned 23 of its 26 all-time academic NCAA Public Recognition Awards in nine different sports under his direction.

His work to improve the Cyclone experience includes CyTown, the Stark Performance Center, and the Gateway Pedestrian Bridge. Pollard also oversaw the expansion of Jack Trice Stadium making it the second-largest stadium in the Big 12 Conference, increasing capacity to 61,500.

The Iowa State Athletics department says the terms of Pollards new contract will be announced at a future date.