The ISU athletic department announced Tuesday that five coaches on the men’s and women’s track and cross country teams would not have their contracts renewed for next season.

Current men’s cross country coach Corey Ihmels will take over head coaching duties for the men’s and women’s teams in both sports. Head men’s track coach Steve Lynn, head women’s cross country and track coach Dick Lee, women’s sprints and hurdles coach Scott Roberts, jumps and vaults coach Ron McEachran and throws coach Dan O’Mara will be replaced by a staff of Ihmels’ choosing.

Athletic Director Jamie Pollard said in a press release Ihmels had the “responsibility of re-establishing our tradition of success.”

Lynn has been head men’s coach since 1993, and was an assistant under former Cyclone coach Bill Bergan from 1978 before taking over when Bergan left. Lee has been head women’s coach since 1986.

Both Lynn and Lee said they had no prior warning about the move. Ihmels did not respond to calls and Pollard was not available for comment before press time.

“Obviously, it’s not something I agreed with. That’s not my call now. This athletic department means a tremendous amount to me,” Lynn said. “It’s just that Jamie Pollard has made the decision that it’s something he wants to do.”

The men’s team finished 11th in the Big 12 Outdoor Championships and had only one athlete qualify for NCAA Nationals – decathlete Neil Hines. The women’s team finished ninth in the Big 12 Outdoor Championships and qualified three athletes for Nationals.

Lynn’s regret, however, is that he would not be a part of the future of this team.

“I have no apologies, I have no regrets for what we have done here. The thing I have regrets on is just not having the opportunity to go on and be a part of what’s going to happen from here on, because we have set ourselves up to do some really good things,” he said. “We’ve had here quite a bit of time and I know that.”

Lee had similar feelings, saying he felt the program was heading in the right direction.

“We felt great about the improvement we made from last year to this year. We felt like we had probably the best recruiting class in quite some years coming in in the fall,” Lee said. “That’s what’s frustrating – we felt like we had things going in the right direction.”

Senior hurdler Rebecca Williams said the abrupt decision by the department should have been handled differently. The coaches will have one more meet, as they will coach through NCAA Nationals from June 6 to 9.

“It was total shock to the coaches, I believe. One particular person already has a job, I’m pretty sure he knew about that prior. I don’t think it was a shock to him, so I think the other coaches should have known something about what was going to happen,” Williams said. “I also believe they should have waited until after Nationals. We’ve got athletes trying to prepare for that, and they’ve got this in their head.”

McEachran, with 26 years, Roberts, with 12 years, and O’Mara, with 15 years, have had extensive time at Iowa State.

Ihmels was hired as cross country and track coach in 2001 by Lynn, something Lynn takes solace in.

“I’m glad, personally, that Corey is getting this chance, as opposed to somebody on the outside coming in,” Lynn said. “I brought Corey in here, and felt that he’s a guy that understood Iowa State and wanted to make Iowa State great. We’ve worked hard to try to make that happen, and he’s been a part of that.”

Ihmels, a former All-American for the Cyclones in track and cross country, will now oversee six of the 18 varsity sports – men’s and women’s cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field.

Iowa State joins a growing trend in the Big 12, as, prior to this, nine conference schools had combined men’s and women’s track and cross country programs.

“Corey is well-positioned to elevate the competitive performance of our teams . As we strive to improve the competitive standing of Cyclone athletics, the track and cross country teams have a major role,” Pollard said in a press release.

While leaving Iowa State, both Lynn and Lee said they wish the programs the best.

“I just wish the best for the kids on the team and for the program to have continued success,” Lee said. “I’ve been here for a long time, and I don’t wish ill will on anybody. I wish success for the program down the road, and I just wish we could be a part of that.”

Lynn said the most important thing he has accomplished is helping athletes succeed in life, not just on the track and field.

“To me, athletics is still about not just what happens on the track but things that happen behind the scenes with them as people, with learning things about loyalty and trust and honor, and representing themselves and their school,” Lynn said. “When I taught each one of these guys, that’s what they remembered.”

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