UPDATE 5:33 p.m. – 

ISU men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg said he understood what ISU athletic director Jamie Pollard is going through.

Hoiberg’s NBA career was brought to a screeching halt in 2005 when a heart condition that existed since birth came to light, forcing Hoiberg to have an open heart surgery of his own.

“I know today from having that experience that he’s not going to remember much,” Hoiberg said. “Tomorrow, they’re going to ask him to stand up and he’s going to say ‘I can’t.’ I remember all of that stuff.”

After Pollard’s successful open-heart bypass surgery on Tuesday night, Hoiberg only had words of encouragement for the athletic director.

And even though Pollard may have felt embarrassed with all of the attention he received, Hoiberg said he couldn’t have been in a better situation.

“He said he was embarrassed that he was getting that attention…[that] he had those symptoms in front of people,” Hoiberg said. “I said, hell you have to feel lucky that you were in that setting and to have the EMT’s right there and to get into the hospital as quickly as he did.”

Hoiberg, along with nearly all who know and work with Pollard noticed Pollard lived a healthy lifestyle. While that may come as a bit of a shock to some, Hoiberg said the situation is just another example of how dangerous heart diseases can be.

“Jamie Pollard is in as good of shape as anybody,” Hoiberg said. “He runs every day, he’s got low body fat. It just shows that heart disease doesn’t discriminate. It can hit anybody at anytime, anywhere, and he’s very fortunate to be where he is. That’s what he’ll realize once he gets out of his surgery.”

Hoiberg also said that he planned to talk with Pollard in the coming days, and that he will offer his support and advice throughout Pollard’s recovery.

UPDATE 10:30 a.m. –

ISU Athletic Director Jamie Pollard underwent successful open heart bypass surgery Tuesday night. Pollard is currently in the Intensive Care Unit at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, and is expected remain there for several days.

Dr. Christopher Komanapalli, a cardio and vascular surgeon from Iowa Clinic, performed the triple bypass procedure.

The Pollard family offered their gratitude in a press release by the Iowa State athletic department, thanking those who sent their support as well as to the medical staff that has been treating him.

FIRST REPORT – 

ISU Athletic Director Jamie Pollard, 50, suffered a heart attack Monday afternoon in Cedar Falls, Iowa. 

The incident happened while Pollard was watching his daughters compete in the Girls Varsity Invitational track meet at Northern Iowa. He was then taken by ambulance to Allen Hospital in Waterloo, where he spent Monday night for treatment and observation.

“It has been overwhelming to have received so many messages of support,” Pollard said in a statement. “Our family is so appreciative of the uplifting and encouraging thoughts and prayers.”

Pollard was transferred to Des Moines Methodist Hospital on Tuesday, where he later tweeted that he was headed into bypass surgery. 

“Cyclone Nation – thank you for your thoughts & prayers. Just going into bypass surgery now. Go Cyclones!” Pollard said via his twitter.

ISU President Steven Leath appointed Senior Associate Athletics Director David Harris as the acting athletic director for the time being.

ISU football coach Paul Rhoads said that he spoke with Pollard on Monday night, and that he was both alert and stable.

“Quite honestly, [Pollard] said he was embarrassed that he had to be cared for like that,” Rhoads said. “But that’s the sign of a leader when he feels that way, that people have to pay special attention to him instead of him being able to be out front and lead.”

Pollard is in his 10th year as the athletic director at Iowa State and has spearheaded several major projects during his tenure. His latest major project, the renovation of the south end zone at Jack Trice Stadium, is scheduled to be completed this fall.

Pollard’s health had very rarely come into question in the past, with some coaches even noting how healthy the athletic director is on a regular basis. Because of Pollard’s active lifestyle, Rhoads said, this comes at even more of a shock.

“I think initially that there’s just shock because there’s certain people that you don’t think are susceptible to that kind of illness,” Rhoads said. “He’s healthy, he eats a heck of a lot better than I do. He trains, so those kinds of things you don’t think will catch up with a guy like that.”