ISU head coach Paul Rhoads expressed disappointment in his first comments since the announcement that he was being let go at the end of the 2015 football season. 

On the weekly Big 12 teleconference, Rhoads said he was “disappointed” with the decision. 

“We have accomplished a lot here at Iowa State in our seven years and we have a good young team with a great nucleus of talent and leadership and we were looking forward to the opportunity to coach them as we head into 2016,” Rhoads said. 

Although he was disappointed, Rhoads wasn’t surprised. 

“No, I was not surprised,” Rhoads said. “It’s a bottom-line business and everyone in this profession well knows that, and we accept it very openly when we get into it.” 

When he coaches his final game in Morganstown, W.V., on Saturday, Rhoads doesn’t expect it to be a challenge for his players to prepare. 

“I think our team, as they have been all season, are very dedicated to our preparation, and [this is] one last opportunity to go out and play as a team and be successful as a team,” Rhoads said

Rhoads also took the attention off of himself for the game. He said he doesn’t want to win for himself, but he wants to players to win for themselves. 

“It will be important for the players and especially the senior class,” Rhoads said. “There is no hiding the fact we had some internal issues in our program in [2013] and [2014] that needed resolve, and this senior class in large part has helped resolve that. I would love nothing more than to see them go out as winners and with success.

“How that fits for me personally doesn’t exist. It’s always been about the kids and always will be.”

Rhoads will coach in the season finale against West Virginia on Saturday, which is slated for 11 a.m. Saturday on FS1.