It took less than two months for Iowa State to find a new athletics director.

When Bruce Van De Velde resigned on Aug. 8, it created a hole at the top of the ISU athletic department. That gap was filled Monday when Jamie Pollard was announced as Iowa State’s 14th athletic director.

“I want to build upon a great foundation and to pursue excellence in everything we do,” Pollard said. “[ISU] President [Gregory] Geoffroy has demonstrated that he is about excellence in everything he does and I want to be a part of this team.”

Geoffroy made the announcement at the Jacobson Building on Monday morning.

“He’s an individual with a great deal of direct experience and that will be important for this position,” Geoffroy said. “He has the leadership qualities and skills that will allow him to excel.”

Pollard comes to Ames from the University of Wisconsin, where he has served as the university’s deputy athletics director.

Prior to that, he was Wisconsin’s senior associate athletics director for administration and chief financial officer.

He first visited Ames with his family during Labor Day weekend.

“We fell in love with Ames,” Pollard said. “When the process actually started, every step of the way our interest continued to increase. This is a diamond in the rough.”

Pollard said the people of Ames and Iowa State were a big reason he wanted to pursue the job as the head of Cyclone athletics.

“One of the biggest factors was the wonderful people. Everything we were told about the people was true, and even more so,” Pollard said. “There is a solid foundation in place and I am looking forward to leading the program and taking advantage of a tremendous opportunity.”

Pollard was informed of Geoffroy’s decision Sunday night while in Chicago. Pollard and two other finalists were in the Windy City for the final round of interviews.

After completing his interview, Pollard and his wife retreated to their hotel room to wait for a phone call.

“When the phone call came, we hoped it was a positive,” Pollard said. “We knew immediately from President Geoffroy’s voice that we were the ones.”

Geoffroy said that he and Pollard see eye-to-eye.

“He shares the vision that I have: to elevate the overall athletics program at Iowa State and to increase resources and make Cyclone athletics great,” Geoffroy said.

“He sees this as an opportunity to elevate the Iowa State athletic program to a higher level, and he has great momentum and a great foundation to build upon.”

Pollard stressed the need for the Cyclones to have a well-rounded program.

“My vision has many aspects to it, but first to make an athletic program that is about excellence,” Pollard said. “Student-athletes need to be the best they can be both academically and athletically.”

In 2003, Pollard was named to Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal’s “Top Forty Under 40,” a list that shows the top individuals in athletics under the age of 40. He was also named Business Manager of the Year by the Collegiate Athletic Business Managers Association.

Pollard will receive a five-year contract with a base salary of $275,000, along with annual incentives for achieving athletic and academic performance goal of up to $75,000.

Also, if he remains athletic director for five years he will receive an additional $50,000 per year in deferred compensation.

A background in finance will serve as an asset to Pollard, who inherits the second smallest budget in the Big 12.

Although his experience with money will help, Pollard said there are even more skills that he will need to use.

“It’s going to take more then that [financial] background,” Pollard said.

“It’s going to take people skills and getting Cyclone Nation to buy into whatever strategic plan we develop. We’re at a real good place to take Iowa State to a whole new level.”

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