Iowa State fires head football coach Paul Rhoads

Josh Newell/Iowa State Daily

Iowa State’s head coach Paul Rhoads argues a call Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015 during the third quarter in Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa.

Ryan Young, , Max Dible, , Luke Manderfeld
November 22, 2015

Iowa State has fired head coach Paul Rhoads Sunday morning, according to a release from the ISU Athletic Department.

The move comes just one day after the Cyclones fell apart against Kansas State, blowing a 21-point halftime lead in Manhattan, Kan. Following the loss, the Cyclones fell to just 3-8 on the year, and 2-6 in conference play.

ISU football players were officially informed of the decision to fire Rhoads at a team meeting at noon on Sunday. Many of the players appeared emotional as they left the meeting and hugged Rhoads, who did not wish to comment.  

“It’s hard anytime something like this happens, but we have to come together and stay together as a team,” said lineman Jake Campos. 

Rhoads was 32-54 in his seven seasons with the Cyclones. Rhoads took the Cyclones to three bowl games in his career at Iowa State.

“I understand the nature of the business. That’s what coaching is — it’s a business. It’s based on results,” said lineman Oni Omoile. “It doesn’t make it any easier, emotionally, when he’s a guy who took you in, especially me. He’s a guy that took you in when most other schools didn’t think you were good enough for a scholarship offer from one of these BCS Power 5 Conferences.”

The Cyclones will take on West Virginia on Saturday in Morgantown, West Virginia, in their final game of the season. Rhoads will coach in the season finale, however.

“We’re going to go out there and give it everything we got, just like we have been all year,” Campos said. “[We’re] just going to come together as a team and play our game.”

According to the release, athletic director Jamie Pollard informed Rhoads of his decision on Sunday morning. Both Pollard and Rhoads will speak Monday at a scheduled press conference. 

“[Rhoads] cares about us,” Omoile said. “I can see it … just how he approaches it, his passion, it makes me want to give everything for him.”

And as for the game next Saturday, many said that the game will be even more emotional than it would have been normally. 

“I can’t even imagine, just from an emotional standpoint,” Omoile said. “Just in a word, overwhelming.”

Some players took to Twitter to react to their coach’s firing.