In five years on the job, ISU Athletic Director Jamie Pollard has hired coaches Paul Rhoads, Fred Hoiberg and Kevin Jackson.

Friday, the man who hired Pollard, ISU President Gregory Geoffroy, announced he plans to step down as president no later than July 31, 2012.

In the fall of 2005, Geoffroy selected Pollard to be the university’s next Athletic Director, hiring him away from the University of Wisconsin where he served as Deputy Athletic Director.

Pollard responded to his boss’ announcement in an email Friday afternoon.

“I will always be indebted to Greg for giving me a chance to serve as Director of Athletics, at Iowa State University. He is the easiest and most supportive person I have ever worked for and I will miss him on both a professional and personal level.

“His support of the athletics department has been instrumental to the progress we have made the last six years. Greg’s legacy, from an athletics department perspective, is that he has been an engaged and enthusiastic leader, who helped spearhead several significant facility projects (Hixson Lied Academic Center, Sukup Basketball Complex, Jack Trice Stadium Renovations, Athletics taking over Hilton, etc.) and played a critical role in keeping the Big 12 conference together last summer.

“I look forward to sharing several additional athletics milestones with him during his final year as our President.”

In their time together, Pollard and Geoffroy have worked on several major projects, including those Pollard alluded to in his email — construction of the Sukup Basketball Complex, renovation of Jack Trice Stadium and construction of the Hixson Lied Academic Center. 

During the next year, the university and athletic department will construct a new scoreboard and sound system at Jack Trice Stadium and will continue progress with the Cyclone Sports Complex, a new facility to house the ISU soccer, softball and track and field programs.

Geoffroy was a supporter of the Big 12 Conference last summer when schools like Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska were courted by other conferences. The president even went so far as saying he was “disappointed” when Nebraska and Colorado ultimately decided to leave the Big 12.