Editor’s note: This is the final story in a three-part series reviewing ISU Athletic Director Jamie Pollard’s first year at Iowa State.

He wants success and doesn’t want to wait for it, and thats why Jamie Pollard has Cyclone Nation buzzing about the future of ISU athletics.

The firing of former men’s basketball coach Wayne Morgan signaled the start of a flurry of changes around the ISU athletic community. The decision was made based on multiple factors, including Iowa State missing the postseason and negative attention the university received based on recruiting practices.

Northern Iowa coach Greg McDermott was named the coach shortly thereafter, but that was just the beginning. Later last year, longtime wrestling great and coach of the Cyclones Bobby Douglas stepped down to make room for Cael Sanderson to take over the program.

Sanderson went undefeated throughout his collegiate wrestling career and won a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics.

Later yet, three-time Big 12 gymnastics coach of the year K.J. Kindler left the ISU gymnastics team for Oklahoma after the Cyclone athletic department couldn’t financially match Oklahoma’s offer, said Steve Malchow, senior associate director of the athletic department. Her departure showed one of Iowa State’s biggest weaknesses in the Big 12.

“K.J. had been a multiple-time Big 12 coach of the year and is one of the best in the country. She had a great opportunity, one she thought was better for her,” Malchow said. “We have to continue to raise the funds so that we can continue to give our coaches what the other schools have.”

Iowa State hired Auburn assistant coach and recruiter Jay Ronayne to replace Kindler as head coach. Ronayne helped guide the Tigers to four consecutive NCAA regional tournaments, but his performance at Iowa State remains to be seen.

The personnel changes aren’t the only thing fueling the different atmosphere around Ames. Pollard said he believes the facilities need a facelift before the Cyclones can truly be competitive, and there’s even a timetable for that already.

The introduction of the facilities master plan has created quite a buzz around Cyclone Nation. The plan includes adding suites, gates and club seats in Jack Trice Stadium. This is to be completed by fall 2008.

The plan for a practice facility outside Hilton Coliseum is proposed to be completed around fall 2009, and bowling in the south endzone at Jack Trice Stadium to be completed by the fall of 2010.

The plan has women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly excited.

“Usually when you discuss changes, they take a long time to put into effect, but Jamie and his staff, they want to get things done,” Fennelly said. “They don’t want to wait for things to happen; they’re going to make things happen.”

The Regents have approved the proposal to raise the $25 million needed for the suites in Jack Trice and Hilton. So far, the department has achieved more than $4 million in gifts.

The attitude Pollard has instilled in the entire Cyclone community is one that has caught fire rather quickly around Ames.

“It’s contagious,” Malchow said. “You want to get better, and you just have an appetite to get better.”

Challenging? Sure. Impossible? Not according to Pollard.

“If it was easy, someone would have already done it,” Pollard said. “The most fun things to achieve are those no one thinks you can do. That’s what excites me coming into work every day, because there are a lot of people who don’t think we can do it, and I’m up for proving them wrong.

“I wouldn’t have put it out there if I didn’t think we could do it.”

Besides, Pollard’s wife, Ellen, said the project is just right for her husband.

“He thrives on a challenge,” Ellen said. “I don’t know how happy he’d be at a program that’s already [at the top]. What he enjoys is getting it from here to there.”

The idea doesn’t sell itself, but Pollard has tried to put forth the qualities that sell these proposals every day.

“It takes sincerity, passion and getting people to share in your beliefs,” Jamie said. “We talk about $25 million like it’s pocket change, and it’s not.”

In the last year, Iowa State’s athletic director has made one thing crystal clear – mediocrity isn’t an option, whether that’s in athletics, staff or facilities.

He’s set the ideas in motion. Now, it’s up to Cyclone Nation to answer the call.