For ISU Athletic Director Jamie Pollard, the biggest decision is always the one ahead of him.

The seven months Pollard has held the top job in the ISU athletic department have been a blur of motion – new men’s basketball and wrestling coaches, a reorganized athletic staff and a vision that stretches as far as his imagination will allow.

If the first seven months have been busy, imagine what is in store.

“I haven’t spent a lot of time thinking about what we’ve accomplished,” Pollard said. “I’m always thinking about what we need to accomplish.”

One of Pollard’s strongest characteristics is the passion he brings to his job.

“I haven’t found many guys in my 11 years at Iowa State that have the same energy level as I have,” said ISU football coach Dan McCarney. “I know I have to have the energy level to be successful because I’m not real smart, but (Pollard) might rival my energy level.

“We’re not going to sit here and talk about the past and pat ourselves on the back. Let’s keep looking forward and making progress.”

Each new day brings a new decision for Pollard, decisions he said are made with no regrets.

“You make a decision and you move on, you can’t dwell on it,” Pollard said. “Everything you do isn’t going to be right.

“I have a job where it’s, ‘what have you done for me lately?’ and I understand that. I’m only as good as my last decision. If I start spending too much time thinking about prior decisions, I’m going to make mistakes on future decisions.”

Some of those decisions have been harder than others.

After watching a seemingly directionless basketball team stumble its way through a 16-14 season and fail to grab a bid to the postseason NIT, Pollard had enough.

He sent coach Wayne Morgan packing – firing him after just three seasons.

Four days later, Pollard announced a replacement, hiring former UNI coach Greg McDermott to captain the Cyclone ship.

Less than two weeks after the changes in the basketball program, the ISU wrestling team was turned upside down.

Longtime coach Bobby Douglas retired, and Pollard immediately hired Cael Sanderson, former Cyclone great and Olympic gold medalist.

Although both coaching decisions were supported by a majority of the Cyclone nation, there was still a strong segment of fans who were upset with the way both situations were handled.

Pollard said he tries to block out both criticism and praise in the aftermath of decisions he makes.

“We’re all human,” Pollard said. “No one likes to be criticized and we all like to be praised. You can’t get to excited when people tell you good things, and you can’t get to down when people get down on you.

“There is no decision you can make that everyone will think is perfect or everyone will think is the worst decision you could have made. What you have to do is what you think is right for Iowa State, and if you do that, more likely then not you’ll come out on the right side of the ledger,” he said.

But Pollard’s vision isn’t limited just to personnel moves. His plans for Cyclone facilities, fan engagement and management are on a scale never seen before at Iowa State.

“That’s what makes it fun – that’s what it’s all about,” Pollard said. “I don’t think a lot about what we’ve accomplished. That’s history. It doesn’t matter what we’ve accomplished, what matters is where we’re going.

“That’s what’s exciting to me. I think there is a wonderful future ahead for Cyclone athletics that we’ve never experienced before at this institution. I’m excited to be the person in charge to lead us there.”

First on Pollard’s list is a strategic plan, which the athletic department hopes to release in August. The plan will lay out the direction of the department, showing the public what Pollard has been working on behind the scenes.

With his plan in motion, Pollard plans to turn to his first major building project – an indoor practice facility that will house both the ISU basketball and volleyball teams.

There are also improvements to Hilton Coliseum in the works.

A new scoreboard, sound system and realigned student seating are all planned.

After basketball comes football, for which renovations to Jack Trice Stadium are part of Pollard’s vision.

The marching band is being moved from the south end zone to bleachers in front of the Jacobson Building, creating more seating for fans. The move of the band sets up the possibility for even more seating in the end zone someday.

“We’re getting things set up in a way that you can work toward bowling in the end zone,” Pollard said.

Next on his checklist is a project for all students: A new on-campus recreation facility that includes a pool.

On the back burner is a proposal to construct new softball, track, tennis and possibly baseball facilities on the flood plain across Elwood Drive from Hilton Coliseum and Jack Trice Stadium.

“It would help with what we call the backdoor of campus, which is Elwood Drive,” Pollard said.

“Other than Reiman Gardens, there isn’t a whole lot there that says you’ve arrived at Iowa State University.”

Although his plans for ISU athletic facilities may sound overly grand, McCarney said he doesn’t see any reason why Pollard won’t deliver with his ideas.

“He’s trying to find a way to get things done and when people say, ‘you can’t,’ he says, ‘why not?'” McCarney said.

“But he still lives in a realistic world and doesn’t hope and dream for things that aren’t really possible someday,” he said.

“But he doesn’t limit himself either, so I think he’s really balanced in that sense.”