ISU football has entered a new era.

When the Cyclones take to the field for their season opener against Kent State, they will be led by a new coach for the first time in 12 seasons.

Dan McCarney resigned, effective at the end of the season, leaving a vacancy at the head coaching position.

Enter Gene Chizik, who was announced as the Cyclone leader by Athletic Director Jamie Pollard.

Pollard said Chizik was their top prospect from day one, and he went after the coach with everything he had.

“We made it our mission to recruit this man to take us to places we’ve never been,” Pollard said.

“We got the man we wanted from day one.”

Chizik comes to Ames from Texas, where he was co-defensive coordinator. He helped lead the Longhorns to a national championship last season and a Rose Bowl win over Michigan the season before that.

Prior to coaching at Texas, he was the defensive coordinator at Auburn, helping lead the Tigers to a 13-0 season in 2003.

“It’s been a lifelong professional dream to be the head coach of a football program, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with this opportunity,” Chizik said.

Chizik has the job of replacing McCarney, who was with the Cyclones for 12 seasons. In those 12 years, McCarney led Iowa State to five bowl games and a share of the Big 12 North in 2004.

But Iowa State struggled all season, posting a 4-8 overall record and needed a win in its final game against Missouri to avoid going 0-8 in the Big 12.

Even with the struggles and coaching change, the Cyclone players are ready to get back on the field.

“I’m ready to get started,” ISU receiver Todd Blythe said. “I’m ready to get started under [Chizik] and be a player for him.”

Since arriving in Ames on Nov. 27, Chizik has started putting the pieces of his coaching staff together.

Chizik hired former Alabama-Birmingham defensive coordinator Wayne Bolt to do that same job with Iowa State. He also hired Robert McFarland to be his offensive coordinator. McFarland comes to Iowa State from Stephen F. Austin, where he was the team’s head coach for two seasons.

Mike Pelton (defensive line), Jay Rodgers (wide receivers) and Barney Farrar (director of football relations) have also been brought to Ames to be part of Chizik’s staff.