On a typical Ames autumn day in 1978, Gaylynn Roach (Bruce) eagerly made her way to the P.E. (Forker) Building to see if her name was on the list.
She had spent four days going through rigorous workouts during open tryouts to be a member of the Iowa State Women’s Basketball team.
Crossing her fingers and hoping she displayed her outstanding basketball skills, Roach received good news.
There it was.
Gaylynn Bruce.
She did it. She made the team, something she wanted so badly when she enrolled at Iowa State University after a wonderful prep career at Des Moines Tech High School.
“I was very happy,” Roach said. “I was really excited because I honestly didn’t think I would have a chance to make the team, but I did. A lot of people were happy about it, because I was playing against a lot of the guys on the men’s team. I would go to the gym and play with them, and they were really happy for me.”
What Roach didn’t know at the time was that she has a unique placement in Iowa State Athletics history. On the day her name appeared on the list she became the school’s first black women’s basketball player.
Iowa State will honor Roach at Saturday’s Oklahoma game in conjunction with Black History Month and the 50th anniversary of Title IX. The team will wear honorary shooting shirts with her name (Bruce) and number (#22) on the back of the warmups.
Roach’s pioneering journey began at Des Moines Tech where she was an all-metro player for the Engineers. Even though she had a solid prep career, the opportunities for women to compete in collegiate athletics were lagging. Budgets were miniscule and scholarships were extremely rare.
Like most women high school hoopsters, Roach wasn’t recruited and picked Iowa State because she had always been a fan.
“I lived in Des Moines, so it was just 30 minutes away and we always cheered for Iowa State,” Roach said. “I was a big Hercle Ivy fan. It [ISU] was close to home and an easy choice for me.”
High school girls in Iowa at the time were playing 6-on-6 basketball, much different than the game used in college.
Roach observed this first-hand when Cyclone head coach Lynn Wheeler made her a guard.
“It was a big transition to be a guard,” Roach recollected. “Even though I was only 5’8, I was more of a forward. I played both sides of the court, but I was great at rebounding and I played physical. So for me, it was a change to be dribbling all the time and guarding the ball full court.”
The Iowa State women’s hoops program was still in its infancy in 1978-79. The program was just getting its footing in its sixth year sponsoring a team. Women’s sports were still under the AIAW banner and the NCAA was still four years away from supporting women’s athletics.
The women’s collegiate experience has vastly improved over the years, but the proud feeling of being a member of a team has never changed.
“I really enjoyed the camaraderie,” Roach said. “I was the only black player on the team, but I wasn’t treated different than anybody else. When there were pranks that would happen in the dressing room, which happened a lot, I was a part of the prank. We all had sports in common. Many of us were softball players, so we also had that in common.”
The 1978-79 Iowa State Women’s Basketball Team
Roach’s time as a Cyclone was short-lived, unfortunately.
With no scholarship and family expenses running low, she had to make a difficult decision. The semester was wrapping up and she knew she couldn’t afford to stay in school.
“I was practicing and traveled with the team through Christmas,” Roach recalled. “I wasn’t on scholarship, most of us weren’t, so I was basically on my own. I just couldn’t afford school anymore.”
Roach moved back to Des Moines and became a court reporter. She later settled in Mississippi with her husband and even coached 9th-grade basketball for a period.
Roach has continued to follow Iowa State Athletics. Her sister married former Cyclone hoops star Justus Thigpen, which helped her stay connected. She also later learned that a photo of her was featured in an Iowa State Football Recruiting publication in the early 1980s.
Gaylynn Roach’s photo in an early 1980s Iowa State Football Recruiting brochure.
Roach shouldn’t be just a footnote in Cyclone history. She helped build a bridge for future black players to achieve success.
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State Defensive Coordinator Jon Heacock has a list of topics he preaches to his defenders as they prepare to take the field on Saturdays.
It starts with every defender knowing their assignments and working as a cohesive unit. His final words come from a letter. They are the thoughts of Jack Trice, Iowa State’s first Black student-athlete, who jotted down on hotel letterhead the significance of playing in his first real college football game in 1923.
Jack Trice lost his life due to injuries he sustained in that game, but his legacy, and letter, will forever be a part of the history of Iowa State University.
From a statue on central campus to the stadium bearing his name, Jack Trice is a key figure in the proud tradition of Cyclone football.
Anthony Johnson Jr., a senior from St. Petersburg, Fla., who has earned All-Big 12 honors twice, listens intently when Heacock reads Trice’s letter. It’s an emotional moment, especially when he says the words, “I Will.”
Johnson Jr. often reflects about Trice’s courage.
“I can’t imagine all the obstacles Jack Trice had to overcome,” Johnson Jr. said. “His letter inspires all of us every day. He was so courageous, and it’s important to remember who and what he stood for.”
Johnson Jr. is a veteran cornerback who embodies Trice’s competitive spirit. That’s why it’s only fitting he’s this first recipient of the Jack Trice Endowed Scholarship, which will now be given annually thanks to the generous donation from Kent and Kristen Lucken of Newton, Mass.
The Luckens pledged a gift spanning five years to establish the scholarship.
Their motivation for the gift includes the following:
A desire to help the program and the department financially during a difficult time
A desire to highlight the Jack Trice story, a very important element in the history of Iowa State University
A desire to help the program and the university with social justice issues that are important at this time
The scholarship is awarded to a Black student-athlete on the football team who is entering his senior year. The recipient, selected by head football coach Matt Campbell, is a student-athlete who portrays courage, character, selflessness, leadership, dedication to the community, and academic/athletic achievement, all traits of Trice and Johnson Jr.
“With the establishment of this scholarship, we honor the enduring legacy of Jack Trice and the timeless values he embodied in Iowa State football,” Kent and Kristen Lucken said. “We join Coach Campbell in congratulating Anthony and his family as the inaugural recipient of the Jack Trice Endowed Football Scholarship and recognize all Anthony has done on and off the field to honorably represent his team and Iowa State University.”
Johnson Jr. is humbled to have his name mentioned with Trice.
“It’s an incredible honor,” Johnson Jr. said. “I feel this is one of the highlights of my career just to have my name associated with him. I will continue to honor his legacy.”
The senior also wanted to express his gratitude to the Luckens for their kind gesture.
“I appreciate this gift from the Luckens,” Johnson Jr. said. “Their kind donation will help me achieve my goals.”
Johnson Jr. and the rest of the Cyclones pay tribute to Trice each game by adorning “Trice Stripes” on their jerseys. The stripes are similar to the jersey Trice wore in 1923.
The Trice story will now mean even more to Johnson Jr.
“Jack Trice paved the way for so many African-American athletes – before and after me – to have an opportunity to compete for this university and many around the world,” Johnson Jr. added. “Earning this scholarship will be something I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
AMES, Iowa – Joe Hammen always dreamed about being a sports broadcaster.
Growing up in Muscatine, Iowa, Hammen remembers being smitten by the announcing bug in third grade when he would listen to the local high school sports broadcasts on the radio.
Hammen would tape the radio calls by the local announcers, add his personal touch, and produce his own material.
This passion led Hammen to an amazing resume in broadcast work and public address announcing. He now reaches another milestone in his outstanding career in 2021 when he takes over as the PA voice for Iowa State football in Jack Trice Stadium and Cyclone basketball in Hilton Coliseum.
Replacing legendary figures like Gary Wade, who was the energetic PA voice for Cyclone hoops for 42 years, and Karl Schloerke, who amped up Cyclone fans for 20 seasons at Jack Trice Stadium, is something Hammen knows will be difficult.
“I have big shoes to fill, no question about it,” Hammen said. “I will have a different style, but it will be an exciting call. Everybody has their own individual ways of doing things so it’s something that I think Iowa State fans will appreciate and enjoy. I know that they’re used to Gary and Karl for all of those years but all I would ask is they give me a fair shot and I know that they will because they’re knowledgeable.”
Most Cyclone fans will recognize Hammen’s voice because his volume of work has reached the top level of professional and high school sports in the state of Iowa.
He’s been the PA for the Iowa High School Girls Basketball State Tournament since 2013, the master of ceremonies at the Iowa Games since 2014 and the radio/television play-by-play man for the Iowa High School Boys Basketball State Tournament since 2016.
In 2012, Hammen received a big break in his career when he was picked to be the PA for the Iowa Cubs.
He was at the right place at the right time.
“I was really lucky to get the Iowa Cubs job,” Hammen said. “My son and Sam Bernabe’s (President/General Manager of the Iowa Cubs) played on the same high school team at Dowling Catholic and I just happened to be volunteering as the public address announcer for the junior varsity at the time. Sam heard me and gave me a trial run with Iowa Cubs, which eventually led to more games. It’s been an absolute blast and it’s such a fun atmosphere. Nothing beats going to the ballpark on a Friday night and there’s 10,000 people there on a beautiful summer evening.”
Although Hammen, a 1985 graduate of the University of Iowa, has never announced a Cyclone event before, you should not underestimate his affinity for Cyclone Athletics.
Like many people who moved to Central Iowa in the 1980s, the lure and personality of Johnny Orr was infectious. The mystique of Orr played a huge role in Hammen cheering for the men and women in Cardinal and Gold.
“I think so many people my age will tell you they started following Iowa State when Johnny Orr arrived on campus,” Hammen said. “I mean, there was a guy that created such an amazing atmosphere. Later Dan McCarney came around. I’ve always been a big Dan McCarney fan. Both of those guys represented Iowa State in an exemplary manner, and both were very charismatic and great recruiters. You couldn’t help becoming a fan.”
All public address announcers have their own style, but a standard trait in the profession is the ability to bring energy and excitement to the home crowd while being respectful to the opponent.
Hammen has mastered this skill.
“I expect the PA announcer to do whatever they can in order to generate excitement. I think that’s natural,” Hammen noted. “You should know who the home team is just based on the inflection of the announcer. But I never want to go over the edge and go too far. You need to be professional and you need to be accurate. That being said, however, when fans enter Jack Trice Stadium and Hilton Coliseum, they will know they are in Iowa State territory.”
As the 2021 football season nears, Hammen is eager to witness sold-out crowds in Jack Trice Stadium once again.
“I’ve wanted to do something like this my entire life. I’m so thrilled and excited for the opportunity and it’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Hammen.
For the few individuals out there having second thoughts about a University of Iowa graduate calling Cyclone games, you should not worry. Hammen has an easy rebuttal.
“I have to remind people on occasion there was another guy that was an Iowa graduate, a gentleman by the name of Pete Taylor, who made the transition pretty well. I intend to do the same thing.”
Tom Kroeschell quietly began his career in Iowa State Athletics in 1985.
Max Urick was starting his third year as Iowa State’s Athletics Director. The Lied Recreation Center didn’t exist. The main administrative athletics structure was the Olsen Building, where on the west side stood a double-wide trailer, a place Kroeschell and the Iowa State sports information staff called home for six years.
A lot has changed in Kroeschell’s 36 years as a key member of the Iowa State Athletics program.
He’s witnessed amazing progress, historic victories and forged many friendships, documenting the feats of Cyclone student-athletes and teams along the way.
The knowledge and history Kroeschell possesses about everything Iowa State is immense.
Sadly, this wonderful chapter and fruitful relationship with ISU will come to a close when Kroeschell retires June 30.
“It really is a kaleidoscope of feelings,” Kroeschell said. “What I am going to miss most are the people because that is the whole reason I got into this. The greatest thing about my job were the people I worked with every day who were like family to me. It was a privilege to work with the coaches and be involved in their programs. Will I miss the competitions? Yes, but I will miss all the wonderful people more.”
How it started
Kroeschell began his career in sports information as a student assistant at Drake.
“I was fortunate to be hired by Dave Williford at my alma mater,” Kroeschell said. “I was at Northwestern University before finding out there was an opening at Iowa State in the sports information office.”
A native of the suburbs of Chicago — Park Ridge, Ill., next to O’Hare International Airport — Kroeschell had Iowa State ties. Both his parents were Iowa State graduates and he spent many summers in Iowa with family and friends.
He also had an affinity for track and field, and the Cyclones were in the middle of an incredible run with Bill Bergan leading the program to conference titles and high national finishes.
It was a no-brainer to apply for the job.
“I was at Northwestern at the time and they were dropping its track and field program,” Kroeschell said. “I was at a track meet and ended up running into the Cyclone staff – Bill Bergan, Steve Lynn, Ron McEachran, Kevin Bourke – and just enjoyed talking with them. The position opened up and I came in here and interviewed. At Northwestern, I was making $13,000 a year and only got by because I was raiding my parents’ refrigerator. Iowa State offered $18,900 and I felt like a millionaire.”
Football, basketball, wrestling, track and field — you name it, Kroeschell helped cover it, bringing Cyclone fans closer to the action.
Kroeschell cherished the early days of his Cyclone tenure as an assistant sports information director from 1985-93. Maybe the office was a tad understaffed, but hard work was the recipe for success in a time before the internet and social media.
About that trailer? Kroeschell laughs now at all of the fun times he had in the “office.”
“I remember coming back home from a Big Eight Cross Country meet in Lawrence and it was late,” Kroeschell recalled. “I get to the trailer at 1:30 a.m., and I come in there and the place is just hopping with students. We shared it with the marketing staff and there were a lot of great memories. Coaches would come in all the time just to get away and chat. Students loved our big satellite dish and microwave while they worked.”
Tom Kroeschell talks to Assistant Athletics Director Dave Cox as public address announcer at a wrestling meet in the 1980s.
Taking the lead
One of ISU’s longest-tenured employees, Kroeschell took over as director of the sports information office in 1993, a position he held until he transitioned to Cyclones.tv in 2013.
He beams when counting all of his former staff and students who have built outstanding careers in athletics.
“It starts with Dave Starr, who hired me in 1985,” Kroeschell said. “We were two young guys and lived together in a house in West Ames. For a while there was just two of us in the office. My fellow assistants throughout my career were high quality people and I learned a lot from being around them.”
“We learned over time how to give our students the best experience possible,” Kroeschell added. “It is great now to see them with their families and working in all different professions. I am not going to take credit for their accomplishments. We had a very small staff. We needed their help. They were serving on the front lines, and at many schools they wouldn’t have been. I think they benefited from that, obviously. Working with students keeps you young and it was a joy to watch them grow. We also had some fun along the way.”
A story-teller at heart
With every title Kroeschell held in the athletics department, his incredible gift of storytelling shined through. For Kroeschell, it was all about highlighting the accomplishments of Cyclone student-athletes.
“One of the great things I had the chance to do was helping out Cyclones.tv and working under a pro like John Walters, who has done it every day for years,” Kroeschell said. “Producing documentaries was a pleasure, and what gives me the most satisfaction was telling the stories of people who are no longer here to tell them.”
One of the most difficult and tragic moments in Iowa State Athletics history occurred on Nov. 25, 1985. Kroeschell was awaiting the return of the women’s cross country team that only hours earlier exceeded all expectations by finishing runner-up at the 1985 NCAA Championships.
One of the three planes carrying the team members didn’t make it back, crashing in Des Moines and killing all seven individuals on board, including three runners – Sheryl Maahs, Julie Rose, Susan Baxter –both coaches – Ron Renko and Pay Moynihan – and pilot Burton Watkins and student trainer Stephanie Streit.
The crash devastated the Iowa State community and changed how Kroeschell would view the ups and downs of his long career. In 2019, Kroeschell, with Rod Bodholdt and Jeff Grummer of B&G Productions, produced an amazing documentary “Forever True” to honor their legacy.
“I was only here for a couple months when the tragedy happened,” Kroeschell said. “To have the documentary come out in 2019, it kind of bookends my career. Over time, I got to know the amazing teammates of those who perished. I felt it was my obligation to tell the story about the individuals who were lost. What they were like and who they were. That was really important to me.”
Witnessing Cyclone history
Kroeschell witnessed so much in his time in Ames.
He’s been a part of national championship teams, had a front-row seat to many of the greatest moments in Cyclone history and assisted in the implementation of many outstanding projects.
Many programs and teams made amazing transformations in Kroeschell’s employment with the school, especially in women’s basketball and volleyball.
“I got to watch Bill Fennelly and Christy Johnson-Lynch build their programs,” Kroeschell said. “Today’s Iowa State students have known nothing but winning for Cyclone women’s hoops and volleyball their entire lives.”
Kroeschell highlights
After covering the 1986 NCAA Wrestling Championships, Kroeschell drove to Minneapolis to watch Johnny Orr’s Cyclone basketball team defeat Michigan, 72-69, and advance to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
He was matside when Bill Kelly pinned Iowa’s Brad Penrith at 126 pounds to lock up the 1987 NCAA wrestling title for the Cyclones.
He was at the finish line when John Nuttall cruised to an individual title that helped the Cyclones earn their first NCAA Men’s Cross Country Championship in 1989. Kroeschell was in Arkansas when ISU won it all again in 1994. He was media coordinator for the 1995 and 2000 NCAA Cross country meets hosted by Iowa State.
Kroeschell was lead announcer for the Drake Relays from 1989-2006. He announced the Iowa prep track meet from 1981-2005. He was the track announcer for the 1996 and 1997 NCAA Track and Field Championships.
One of his greatest personal thrills was serving as a press officer for the U.S. team in the 1991 IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
He successfully promoted and escorted All-American Troy Davis, the first player in NCAA history to record back-to-back 2,000-yard rushing seasons, to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York City … twice (1995 and 1996).
Kroeschell had a major role in the creation of the Iowa State Athletics Hall of Fame before its first class in 1997.
He was in Kansas City in 2000 when both the men’s and women’s basketball teams won Big 12 Conference tournament titles.
As Cael Sanderson wrapped up a perfect undefeated wrestling career (159-0) in 2002, Kroeschell was the man promoting one of the greatest feats in collegiate sports.
He was head coach Paul Rhoads’ sports information director the day the Cyclones shocked the world in 2011 with a 37-31 double-overtime upset of No. 2 Oklahoma State, the highest-ranking win in school history.
Covered Thomas Pollard and Kelly Naumann at the 2016 IAAF World Junior Track & Field Championships in Poland.
Wrote and co-produced Cyclones.tv documentaries on Jack Trice, The Dirty Thirty and 100 years of Iowa State wrestling.
Served as Cyclones.tv and ESPN+ play-by-play announcer for Iowa State soccer and wrestling.
Kroeschell and Cyclone national champion wrestler Kyven Gadson discuss strategy on a Cyclone wrestling television broadcast.
Built from the ground up
In Kroeschell’s estimation, one of the most important figures in his career was Dan McCarney, Iowa State’s football coach from 1995-2006.
Kroeschell was McCarney’s sports information liaison for all 12 years of his tenure at the school. When McCarney inherited a winless program in 1995, the school had only had two winning seasons since 1978.
McCarney was dealt a major reclamation project. Watching McCarney — fueled by determination, hard work and perseverance — dig the Cyclone football program out of a major hole, was one of Kroeschell’s biggest thrills.
“Dan McCarney’s herculean effort and will to lift this program, people and department out of a down period is significant,” Kroeschell said. “Remember, we had five losing seasons in a row and we didn’t get there until his sixth season. Coach had to forge ahead despite all the obstacles built around our program. He kept working his way past all the doubters every day for five years.”
McCarney leaned on Kroeschell’s experience and knowledge.
“Tom’s contributions to Iowa State are countless,” McCarney said. “I am sure it was that way before and that way after, but all I can vouch for is my years, which is a pretty good chunk of time, is that he was my security blanket of professionalism on how to handle things in the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Tom was always a great sounding board.”
McCarney added more.
“I always wanted to create a standard and to get everyone to live up to that standard,” McCarney recollected. “Tom had a high standard in everything he did, how he dealt with the media and how he dealt with me and our players. He was such a great example in how to handle things. He was just one of those guys that was humble, didn’t want to take any of the credit and always wanted to be in the background. Yet, he made a major contribution to our efforts in bringing respect and credibility back to Iowa State football, and he did it all behind the scenes. He is one of those guys that wanted to give more, but expect less in return.”
Kroeschell watches from the sidelines at the Iowa State-Army football game in 2005.
The turning point
The first big sign of McCarney’s progress occurred in 1998. Kroeschell had never witnessed an Iowa State victory over Iowa in football in his first 14 years at the school. In fact, the Hawkeyes had won 15-straight games in the series, and the majority of them were not even close.
That all changed in 1998 when a 28-point underdog Cyclone team went to Kinnick Stadium and dominated Iowa in a 27-9 triumph. There were many demons exorcised that day, and Kroeschell felt the momentum turning in favor of the Cyclones.
“September 12, 1998. What a day,” Kroeschell noted. “People have to remember, it wasn’t just that we beat Iowa, we hadn’t won on the road for seven years. I was at the last road win, and all the ones in-between, and then to have it happen in such a stunning fashion on the field of your instate rival is obviously unforgettable.”
Two years later, ISU’s incredible turnaround in football was complete. The Cyclones tied the school record for wins in a season (9-3) and culminated the year with the school’s first-ever bowl victory, defeating Pittsburgh (37-29) in the 2000 Insight.com Bowl.
Kroeschell remembers greeting the team upon its arrival in Phoenix with a heart full of emotions.
“I was standing on the tarmac in Phoenix when the plane landed because I went out a day ahead,” Kroeschell reflected. “I am with all the people in their Insight.com and Fiesta Bowl jackets, and when the team landed, Coach Mac was the first off the plane and he was shaking hands and I started to get tears in my eyes. I will never forget that feeling.”
McCarney was appreciative of Kroeschell’s efforts and was thrilled he savored the historic moment.
“Tom was in the trenches with us,” McCarney said. “When the program is winless, there are lot more issues than just your record. Tom knew that. He knew how hard that climb was. He witnessed it and he contributed to the climb. That’s what made it so gratifying and so exciting.”
A champion for student-athletes
One of the most challenging and exciting times in Kroeschell’s career was navigating the media frenzy during Cael Sanderson’s quest for perfection in wrestling from 1998-2002. The four-time national champion was attempting to do the impossible, and Kroeschell’s calm demeanor and professionalism played a major role in Sanderson’s journey.
“The most remarkable thing about what Cael Sanderson did was that he was never in trouble in a match,” Kroeschell said. “He always took control and beat everyone so soundly. I was lucky because Cael was very accommodating and a very good person to work with. I was so fortunate and it was a huge factor in our relationship. We all have worked with people who are easy and those where it’s a chore. It’s a job. Cael, Troy Davis and Lisa (Koll) Uhl — three of our greatest athletes in school history — were all charming and delightful individuals. I was the fortunate one to be around such great people.”
A gratifying moment for Kroeschell was in 2017 when the Cyclone student-athletes selected him the winner of the Above and Beyond Award, given annually to a person who shows commitment in promoting and assisting in the welfare of ISU athletes.
“It was special because the honoree is chosen by the student-athletes themselves,” Kroeschell said.
Kroeschell and Troy Davis reunite in 2007 at Davis’ Iowa State Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Leaving behind a legacy
The current landscape of Iowa State Athletics is a little different. The outstanding improvements in facilities, staff, overall sports success and resources are astounding.
It’s no secret to Iowa State fans, and Kroeschell, the impetus behind this incredible resurgence.
“I have worked with a lot of athletics directors and I know the history behind most of them, including those in charge before I was here and going way back,” Kroeschell said. “Jamie Pollard is the most accomplished athletics director in the history of the school, and there have been some good ones. To see all the changes and improvements that have occurred, and to have the football team win a Fiesta Bowl, it’s kind of surreal. Jamie brought us through the 2008 Great Recession and COVID-19 and gave us stability through those crises, and that I think is his greatest accomplishment.”
There are many other individuals responsible for Kroeschell’s longevity.
“I worked for people who were vested in my success,” Kroeschell said. “Pete Taylor, Max Urick and Elaine Hieber. They wanted me to succeed and I could count on their support. Each is rightfully in the Iowa State Hall of Fame. They earned it. I also worked with a media filled with professionals. There were a few rough patches here and there but I truly enjoyed working with them. I will miss their company. They were pros.”
As Kroeschell closes out the final months of his proud tenure with Cyclone Athletics, he is keenly aware he wouldn’t have made it this long without an incredible support group around him.
“I want to thank my staff,” Kroeschell said. “I was so fortunate to have these talented and dedicated people working for me and for Iowa State. Lastly, I want to thank my family. When you go home, in this job, you are living in it all the time – the ups and downs of the programs – and I couldn’t come home to a better base. My wife, Beth, and my two kids (Liza and Robbie) supply me with my greatest memories. Each is truly wonderful in their own right and I am thrilled by their accomplishments and braced by their love.”
Like his entrance, Kroeschell will exit quietly remaining behind the scenes deflecting praise and admiration toward the outstanding coaches and student-athletes he covered.
Iowa State Athletics is in a better place now. Many individuals are responsible for that, including Kroeschell, whose influence should be affirmed and underscored.
AMES, Iowa – Toughness. Determination. Perseverance. These were among the many traits of Ryan Harklau during his outstanding football career at Iowa State from 1996-2000.
Through many trials and tribulations, Harklau’s grit and unparalleled work ethic allowed the two-time team captain from Humboldt, Iowa to lead Iowa State to one of its greatest seasons in program history in 2000 with the school’s first-ever bowl victory.
He has also transformed his gridiron experiences into a successful career as Regional Vice President at Farm Bureau Financial Services, a position allowing him to stay connected and give back to his alma mater as a member of the Cyclone football mentoring program.
Once a Cyclone, always a Cyclone.
“It is an amazing honor to stay involved with Iowa State football,” Harklau said. “Most of these players are going into the real world when this is done. Football ends one day and you take the pads off, then what? I have had multiple career conversations with many of the Cyclones and I try to help them get a head start on their careers and find a connection. They are all very hirable, but we have to do a better job of preparing them for that day when they take their pads off. That is the great thing about Coach Campbell. He truly, from day one, was more worried about his players and their futures than he was about winning their first game or championship.”
Harklau was startled when he received a phone call from Campbell in 2016 right when the future three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year took over the reins of the program.
He had never met Campbell before. Why would he reach out? He soon found out.
“He wanted some former players to mentor his guys to help them transition to life after football, that’s how I got into the mentoring program,” Harklau remembered. “He asked us to come back and opened the doors to us all. He knew our 2000 team was successful and asked us how we did it. From day one, I fell in love with the guys on the team and I was sold on what he was doing.”
Harklau took a leap of faith in 1996 when he joined the Cyclones. An all-stater at Humboldt High School, Harklau grew up a huge Cyclone fan, but he ultimately chose the Cyclones behind the vision of Dan McCarney.
McCarney took over a team that went winless in 1994 and was trying to resuscitate a tradition-less program.
“I grew up an Iowa State fan and you wanted the program to be respectable,” Harklau said. “Kids growing up as Cyclone fans want to experience winning. I remember that was a big part of it and I was thinking that this guy (McCarney) can do it. I wanted to be a part of that. I truly believed in Coach Mac.”
Harklau’s career had its bumps in the road. He was a linebacker in high school and needed to gain weight in order to play on the defensive line, adding over 75 pounds to his frame.
He saw action as a redshirt freshman and was moved to nose guard as a sophomore in 1998. ISU won just one game in 1997 and only three in 1998, but there was excitement heading into the 1999 season.
Unfortunately, Harklau, who was voted a team captain, broke his foot twice and missed multiple games in a season where the Cyclones were ever so close to turning the corner. Close games were plentiful, but the wins were not.
The adversity of the 1999 season set up a resurgence in 2000. The rest is Cyclone history, as a special group of seniors, which included Harklau in his second year as a captain, smashed through the door.
Harklau, who racked up 55 tackles in his final season, was joined by Reggie Hayward, James Reed and Kevin DeRonde to form one of ISU’s fiercest defensive fronts.
A stingy defense complemented an innovative offense, creating a formula of success for a team that tied the school record for wins in a season (9-3) and culminated in a 37-29 victory over Pittsburgh in the Insight.com Bowl.
Ryan Harklau joined Reggie Hayward, James Reed and Kevin DeRonde to form one of Iowa State’s toughest defensive fronts in school history.
“One of the most impactful moments of my life was what we accomplished in 2000 because we learned the margins of winning,” Harklau said. “The year before we won four games. That team was just as talented, if not more talented than the team that went 9-3 in 2000. Because of the 1999 team, we learned what knowing how to win means. You have to learn how to win, and we didn’t know how. The seniors in 2000 were not going to leave that place without winning.”
Harklau signed a free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars after his career ended, but a case of staph infection in the preseason derailed his NFL career.
The Iowa State Athletic Council Academic honoree and multiple Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll recipient had a quality education to fall back on.
His finance degree and life skills learned in football as a Cyclone have made him a success, but it also helped him stay connected to his alma mater as a mentor.
This connection led to an exciting new role for Harklau in 2021. The two-time team captain will join the Cyclone Radio Network team as the sideline reporter for the football broadcasts.
Harklau replaces his teammate, All-American Ben Bruns, who recently moved to Wisconsin for a new career as Executive Vice President & General Manager of The Boldt Company.
The torch has been passed between two outstanding players on one of ISU’s greatest teams. Harklau is thrilled for the opportunity.
“This is so special to me because it means I can represent the players,” Harklau said. “I have walked across that white line before and I understand the successes, the frustrations and everything. I feel it will be my responsibility to represent the players, and Ben was so good at that. I will do my best to give feedback to the fans on what the players are going through and what is going on in the locker room.”
John Walters, Iowa State’s longtime radio play-by-play man, has shared the mic with numerous Cyclone legends. He’s excited to add another to the list.
“I often think about how fortunate I’ve been to work some of the great personalities in Iowa State athletics history – Pete Taylor, Gary Thompson, Eric Heft, Ben Bruns – and now Ryan Harklau,” Walters said. “We’ll miss Ben, but his passion for Iowa State isn’t going away. He and his family will still be a big part of the Iowa State family, and I’m so happy for him that his career has taken him on a great trajectory. It’s important to Eric and I to have that ‘football voice’ in our broadcasts, and Ryan will do a fantastic job in that role.”
Moments after winning Iowa State’s first New Year’s Six bowl game on a beautiful Arizona afternoon, Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell took time to show gratitude to his players and their parents.
As a live nationally televised audience tuned in, ESPN’s Quint Kessenich asked Campbell, “In the most challenging year in college football history, you managed to win nine games, tell us about the character of these young men.”
Campbell didn’t flinch. Very few fully understood the dedication from this exceptional team.
“I first want to say to the parents, this doesn’t happen without their support and belief in our program. Thank you,” Campbell said to the jubilant Cyclone fans watching. “It was also the commitment and belief of the 17 seniors who stayed the course and allowed us to be here today.”
Iowa State rewrote the football record book in 2020:
Finished first in the regular-season conference standings for the first time ever with a school-record eight conference victories.
Tied school mark with nine overall victories.
Produced a school-record four All-Americans, including its first-ever unanimous First Team All-American in running back Breece Hall.
Made the Big 12 Championship Game for the first time in school history.
Participated in a program-first New Year’s Six bowl game, defeating No. 25 Oregon in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.
Tied school record by defeating three ranked teams (Oklahoma, Texas, Oregon) and achieved its highest ranking in school history in any poll (#6 CFP).
The list of records and achievements accrued were plentiful, but the unprecedented success of the 2020 Cyclone gridders is perhaps even more amazing considering it was attained during a global pandemic.
For Iowa State to carry out this enormous undertaking it took an entire team effort. This included an “all hands on deck” initiative from the university, athletics administration, the coaches/staff and, most importantly, the players.
The results were amazing. Not only was Iowa State a national success story on the field, it was exemplary behind the scenes in mitigating the threat of the COVID-19 virus while keeping its players safe and competing every Saturday.
How did they do it?
It started with elite leadership. Campbell had a plan, and with the endorsement from Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard, he inspired his staff and players to choose greatness under the most uncertain circumstances.
“From the very beginning, you knew there were great challenges, and those challenges were equal off the field and on the field,” Campbell said. “The constant reminder of what’s giving us a chance to get ourselves better and have the ability to grow day in and day out, is making the best choices we can outside of football.”
“That’s really hard. You have kids going to class. There are times you can be in the wrong place at the wrong time. You continue to try and educate your kids, teach through it and remind your kids that they’re trying to play football through a pandemic.”
Quarantine
When the COVID-19 pandemic began to impact the United States in March of 2020, the country was turned upside down.
The NCAA basketball tournaments shut down along with Iowa State’s spring football season. A three-month quarantine was in place, as Iowa State University finished out the semester via online classes.
Iowa State, along with the rest of the football teams nationally, just lost a critical developmental period. Campbell was keen in his awareness that teams better prepared to handle adversity will come out on top.
Campbell reached out to his staff and administration and developed a concise program to counter the inability to mentor his squad in-person.
New Director of Football Strength and Conditioning Dave Andrews and his staff sent daily workout regimen and communicated through FaceTime to ensure players were properly training on their own.
Because of varying positions and weights, this involved personalized plans, making communication even more vital.
Rachel Voet, who was hired in January of 2020 as football’s Director of Sports Nutrition, mentored the players and guided them in maintaining a proper diet and fueling during quarantine.
Nate Postma, Assistant Director for Sports Medicine, and his staff conducted rehabilitation exercises virtually to injured athletes unable to use Iowa State facilities.
The majority of ISU’s players ventured away from Ames, but some were unable to do so. For those remaining, Campbell got the green light from the administration to set up a meal plan for the athletes.
Constructing A New Normal
The challenge Iowa State had during quarantine was difficult, but it was going to get tougher when the players returned to campus.
The Big 12 Conference announced on May 22 that football student-athletes were permitted access to campus athletic facilities and support personnel for voluntary conditioning and training exercises beginning on June 15.
As the players gradually made their way back to Ames, a new normal was established. The team handbook was tossed in the garbage. Everything would be different and assisting with implementing safety guidelines was Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine Mark Coberley.
Campbell and Coberley spent months planning and devising methods on how to keep the players safe.
Sure, everyone adhered to the rules laid out by the Centers for Disease Control by wearing masks, social distancing and avoiding large gatherings, but there was more to it than that.
A football team is comprised of over 125 student-athletes and over 50 staff members. Every day requires a large gathering.
The team made drastic changes and remained vigilant throughout the entire season.
Players utilized the spacious Bergstrom Indoor Football Facility as a makeshift locker room for social distancing.
The main locker room was off limits until the season started. Half the team used the regular locker room and the other half used the indoor facility. Every other locker was blocked off with barriers at six feet apart. Players stationed 10 feet apart in the indoor facility.
Weightlifting groups were set up in small pods while using multiple weight rooms in the Bergstrom Football Complex and Olsen Building.
Offensive and defensive staff meeting rooms switched to large team rooms in the Bergstrom Football Complex for proper spacing.
For team meetings, the staff used the Scheman Building’s massive convention room area, a vital asset in allowing the entire team/staff to meet as a group.
Meals served in the Sukup End Zone Club in a grab and go format.
Travel was precisely organized by Director of Football Operations Greg “Skip” Brabenec. Players who previously tested positive were roomed with players who hadn’t contracted the virus. The amount of busses doubled to spread individuals out. Seating assignments were issued on airplanes to avoid position groups going down through contact tracing.
It was a massive overhaul, but essential in keeping the players safe and the season on track.
Tucker Robertson, Jordyn Morgan and Will McDonald pick up meals at the Sukup End Zone Club.
“When we started we did a lot of upstream thinking and looking at what will cause us to fail, not how we are going to get through it,” said Coberley. “You have to assume that somebody is going to have a case, and if they do, how can you completely minimize the damage that can occur?”
“We knew that contacts would cause us to fail more than positive cases,” Coberley added. “Everybody understood that, so we concentrated on how we would minimize a positive case. The testing just told us how we were doing. The planning part of it was so much more important.”
The accessibility of Iowa State Center’s Scheman Building was a game-changer. The Athletics Department took over operations of the Iowa State Center in 2019 and found a hidden gem in Scheman.
Scheduled events dwindled at Scheman, a venue where weddings, conferences and seminars are held, because of the pandemic.
Its availability and large conferencing areas were perfect for the football staff to host team meetings.
“Having access to the Scheman Building was critical for us,” Coberley said. “We had three isolated cases of COVID-19 in the last two-thirds of the season. If we had not been in Scheman and still meeting in the Bergstrom, we would not have been able to play some games. We would have had entire position groups out, but we had zero contacts because we were meeting at Scheman.”
“If you ask me,” Coberley added. “The smartest thing we did was to use Scheman. It allowed our team to meet in person and communicate with each other. All the tables were 10 feet apart from each other and players were required to wear masks at all times. We didn’t have to worry about contact tracing at all.”
One of the many rooms the Cyclone football team utilized at the Scheman Building.
Testing
Players began testing on June 8 and tested regularly throughout the season. The summer was an important time to observe how the virus works, and Coberley was taking notes.
Like many schools, Iowa State had its share of positive tests in July. Observing how the virus spread among individuals gave the Iowa State Sports Medicine staff a chance to react and make changes in its mitigation process.
“We had some players get COVID-19 while they were at home before we brought them back,” said Coberley. “What we learned over the course of the summer was that almost all cases were due to close enclosed contact with somebody breathing the same air. Very little was coming from surface contact. We didn’t know that when we started. We figured this was about sharing airspace with somebody. We learned along the way things we can do to keep the damage to a minimum.”
Weekly testing was a daunting task. The costs would be high and the staff had concerns on how quickly the tests were calculated.
The Athletics Department, however, had an ace in the hole in Iowa State University’s world-renowned Veterinary Medicine College. With the assistance from Vet Med, test results could be processed at a rapid rate. Because Vet Med lab technicians could quickly post test results, the football staff swiftly alerted positive cases to minimize escalation of the disease.
“The biggest problem we had at the beginning was it was taking too long to get test results back,” Coberley said. “If you don’t get the tests back quickly, you can’t start tracing individuals to keep things from spreading. The quality of the testing at Vet Med is second to none, and we were getting super accurate results very quickly.”
The collaboration with Vet Med gave the Cyclones a boost. Practice schedules were altered around testing times.
“Because of Vet Med, we could get tested on Wednesday mornings and by practice in the afternoon, we could pull a guy out if he was positive. Vet Med was also PCR testing, which is the gold standard of COVID tests, and very reliable. We went from having the worst access to testing in the Big 12 when we started in June, to becoming the best in the league thanks to Vet Med.”
Leadership And Messaging
Businesses, organizations and athletic departments can implement all the necessary safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but if a few people are not compliant, the whole operation is doomed.
Campbell stressed this daily with his team. He was fully aware he needed 100 percent buy-in and accountability from every team member. If they were going to get through this difficult season, everyone had to pitch in.
Post-practice and post-game, Campbell remained firm in his message: Do your part. Don’t let up.
Head coach Matt Campbell celebrates a play during the 2020 season. Campbell’s leadership was essential in navigating the Cyclones through the challenging season.
“The challenge in college athletics is you’re dealing with 18-to-22 year olds,” The three-time Big 12 Coach-of-the-Year said. “We can’t keep our kids in a hotel. We can’t keep them in a bubble like the NBA. So, the reality has to be in the buy-in value of the players. Can they make great choices? Are they going to wear a mask if they go out in public? Will they stay home instead of go out?”
“Those are all challenges and sacrifices our guys had to make for the privilege to play football. Our kids did that and made great sacrifices all season.”
The sacrifices were even more noticeable from a special group of seniors, a collection of leaders who produced the winningest four-year period in school history with 32 victories.
The seniors had come too far to let this season slip, and the respect they commanded within the team was paramount to the team’s success.
“We had a great group of senior leaders within our walls and they said, ‘Here’s what we want to do. Here’s what we want to accomplish,’” Campbell said. “They had so much respect from their teammates, they were able to create a bubble within our walls.”
Late in the season, senior captain Chase Allen summed up why the Cyclones were doing all the right things behind the scenes.
“We put a lot of emphasis on making wise choices because this is something we get to do,” Allen said. “This whole year was almost taken away from us. This isn’t something we have to do, we get to do it.”
Coberley agrees the players deserve all the credit for making this season one of the best in the annals of Cyclone football.
“We were honest with them. If we were going to get through this life is going to stink,” Coberley noted. “Is everybody in or out? If you are in, everyone has to hold each other accountable. They were committed and made tremendous sacrifices to do things the right way.”
Five-Star Culture
All-American Breece Hall brought this term to the masses after Iowa State’s come-from-behind win at No. 20 Texas in November. It’s appropriate because it signifies how Iowa State was triumphant in this ever so taxing season.
Iowa State never had a pause in activities and played every game on schedule. It was also the only team ranked in the top-12 of the final CFP poll without a postponement or cancellation.
Since school started in late August, the football team only had seven positive cases.
Because of their diligent efforts, the Cyclones rejoiced in Arizona by raising the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl trophy.
“We learned if people do the right things, you really limit your chances of getting the disease,” Coberley concluded. “If you can do that, you have a chance to keep the organization afloat.”
The earliest conference opener in school history takes place this evening at Hilton Coliseum as Iowa State and Kansas State face off in the Big 12 opener for both schools.
The game will be televised by ESPNU with Mark Neely and King McClure on the call.
John Walters and Eric Heft will also have the call on the Cyclone Radio Network starting at 7 p.m.
Three Things
Iowa State is 11-13 all-time in Big 12 openers, including 7-4 in league openers at home.
In six career meetings against K-State, Solomon Young is averaging 13.2 points and shooting 69.2 percent from the field…last season, Young averaged 18.5 points and shot 76.5 percent from the field against the Wildcats as the teams split the season series.
Iowa State has played just three games, the fewest in the Big 12 Conference.
Scouting the Wildcats Kansas State enters tonight’s showdown with a 2-4 overall mark, with wins against Kansas City and Milwaukee. This will be the first road game of the season for the Wildcats, who have eight newcomers on their roster and started three freshmen in their last game.
K-State is averaging just 65.3 points per game and shooting 44.9 percent from the field. The Wildcats have attempted 114 free throws (64.0 percent), compared to just 24 attempts for the Cyclones.
Senior guard Mike McGuirl is averaging a team-best 14.5 points and shooting 42.9 percent behind the arc. McGuirl and freshmen Nijel Pack have connected on 28 of the team’s 45 three-point makes.
Four of K-State’s newcomers combined for 63 of K-State’s 76 points against Milwaukee while shooting 57.1 percent from the field and connecting on 8-of-15 three-pointers.
Bolton Doing It All
Junior Rasir Bolton is one of just eight players nationally and two players in the nation’s top-seven conferences that is averaging at least 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
Bolton has at least five assists and two steals in each game this season. Only Bolton, Baylor’s Davion Mitchell and West Virginia’s Miles McBride have three games with at least five assists and two steals.
The Matchup: Iowa State (1-1, 0-0 Big 12) vs. No. 3 Iowa (4-0, 0-0 Big Ten) Where: Iowa City, Iowa – Carver-Hawkeye Arena When: Friday, Dec. 11, 8 p.m. (CST)
Radio: Cyclone Radio Network/TuneIn Radio Talent: John Walters (PxP), Eric Heft (Analyst)
TV: Big Ten Network Talent: Jeff Levering (PxP), Robbie Hummel (Analyst)
Iowa State makes its first road trip of the season Friday when it travels to face Iowa in an Iowa Corn CyHawk Series showdown.
The game will be televised by Big Ten Network, with Jeff Levering and Robbie Hummel on the call.
John Walters and Eric Heft will also have the call on the Cyclone Radio Network starting at 7 p.m.
Three Things
Iowa State is playing its first game since Dec. 2…the nine-day layoff is the longest for the Cyclones heading into the Iowa game since the 1934-35 season…the layoff was caused by the cancellation of the DePaul game Sunday as the Cyclones were warming up.
Iowa enters the game ranked No. 3 nationally…ISU has five road wins all-time against top-5 teams…Steve Prohm owns a school record five road wins against top-25 teams and his seven career wins against AP Top-10 teams are teid for the second most in school history behind Johnny Orr (12).
Iowa State will look to get off to a better start against the Hawkeyes…the Cyclones are outscoring and outshooting opponents in the second half of games.
Scouting the Hawkeyes Iowa rolls into the 74th meeting in series history with an unblemished 4-0 record and a #3 ranking, matching its highest ranking at the time of tip against the Cyclones (1986-87).
The Hawkeyes are led by player of the year candidate Luka Garza, who is averaging 29.5 points and 10.8 rebounds, while shooting 62.9 percent from the field and making 5-of-9 threes.
Iowa shoots 40.2 percent behind the arc as a team, with three players having connected on at least 10 3-pointers. The Hawkeyes have the nation’s second ranked offense and 71st ranked defense according to kenpom.com.
Iowa owns a 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio as a team.
Against the Hawks
Iowa State graduate transfer Jalen Coleman-Lands has had success in his career against Iowa…in five games against the Hawks, Coleman-Lands is 4-1, averaging 13.8 points and connecting on 46.5 percent of his 3-pointers (4.0 made per game)…he’s scored 17 points in three of the games and been in double figures four times.
Did You Know?
Iowa State freshman Dudley Blackwell played on USA Basketball 3-on-3 team with Iowa’s Patrick McCaffery…also on the team were Providence’s Jyare Davis and Virginia’s Carson McCorkle.
Looking For 100
Rasir Bolton’s next 3-pointer will be the 100th of his career. He’ll join teammates Jalen Coleman-Lands and Tyler Harris as current Cyclones with 100 career makes.
Iowa State hosts DePaul in the 2020 Big 12/Big East Battle at Hilton Coliseum Sunday evening.
The game will be televised by ESPNU, with Mark Neely and Kevin Lehman on the call.
A limited number of fans are being allowed inside Hilton Coliseum for the first time this season. If you are attending, please read through our mitigation documents before arriving. Also, make sure to print the roster card (above) before coming to the game as programs are not available this season.
John Walters and Eric Heft will also have the call on the Cyclone Radio Network starting at 4 p.m.
Three Things
Javan Johnson quietly had a really good game against South Dakota State, finishing with 13 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and eight assists, all while committing no turnovers. He is just the 10th different Cyclone to have an eight assist game with no turnovers since 1996-97.
Johnson and Bolton both rank near the top of the league in assists per game at 6.5 and 6.0 dimes, respectively. With 13 assists to just one turnover, Johnson is second in the Big 12 in assist-to-turnover ratio.
The Cyclones are 1-0 all-time in the Big 12/Big East Battle after beating nationally-ranked Seton Hall last season at Hilton Coliseum.
Scouting the Blue Demons In the year 2020, this shouldn’t come as a surprise, but it is still different. DePaul will be playing its first game of the season while the Cyclones are playing their third. The Blue Demons were shut down due to Covid-19 and had their first four games either canceled or postponed.
DePaul has three transfers in their starting five. Kansas transfer Charlie Moore, one of two returning starters, averaged 15.5 points last season.
The Cyclones and Blue Demons are meeting for just the second time. DePaul won the only previous meeting in 1967.
A Familiar Foe
Iowa State graduate transfer Jalen Coleman-Lands left DePaul in the offseason and joined the Cyclones. Coleman-Lands averaged 10.8 points and hit 77 3-pointers in 41 games for the Blue Demons.
More of the Same
The Cyclones are hoping for more of the same from Solomon Young, who had a dominant performance against South Dakota State. Against the Jacks, Young scored 24 points, including 16 in the second half.
The Matchup: Iowa State (1-0, 0-0 Big 12) vs. South Dakota State (1-2, 0-0 Summit) Where: Ames, Iowa. – Hilton Coliseum When: Wednesday, Dec. 2, 6 p.m. (CST)
Radio: Cyclone Radio Network/TuneIn Radio Talent: John Walters (PxP), Eric Heft (Analyst)
TV: Big 12 Now on ESPN+ Talent: Brent Blum (PxP), Lyndsey Fennelly (Analyst)
Iowa State looks to improve to 2-0 for the fourth time in the last six seasons on Wednesday night when it hosts South Dakota State.
No fans are being allowed at Hilton Coliseum for the game, but you can watch on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. Brent Blum and former Cyclone women’s basketball player Lyndsey Fennelly will provide play-by-play and analysis of the game.
John Walters and Eric Heft will also have the call on the Cyclone Radio Network starting at 5 p.m.
Three Things
Rasir Bolton took over at point guard in the season opener and posted a line of 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Since Steve Prohm got to Iowa State, each of his point guards has posted that line at least twice. Only 13 other times since 1996-97, has a Cyclone posted a line of 16-7-7. So far in 2020-21, Bolton is the only Big 12 player and one of just six nationally with that line. A solid start to his junior season.
Iowa State had four players connect on multiple 3-pointers in the season opener, a feat that only happened four times last season. The best sign for the Cyclones might have been that after missing their first seven 3-pointers, ISU connected on 12-of-25 the rest of the game.
Freshman Darlinstone Dubar pulled down a team-high eight boards in 22 minutes and currently leads the Big 12 with 6.0 offensive rebounds per game. Only five true freshmen have pulled down at least six offensive boards in a game this season.
He Said It “I just try to play hard every single game and give it all I got.” – Darlinstone Dubar
Scouting the Jackrabbits South Dakota State went 1-2 at the Crossover Classic last weekend, earning a win against Utah State. The Jackrabbits lost to Big 12 foe West Virginia by just eight in the season opener.
SDSU is led by Douglas Wilson, who was preseason player of the year in the Summit League. The 6-7 Wilson, who is from Des Moines, is averaging 14.0 points and 5.0 rebounds.
South Dakota State’s leading scorer is guard Noah Freidel, who averages 16.0 ppg. Another guard, Baylor Scheierman is chipping in 14.7 points.
As a team, SDSU is averaging 8.0 made 3-pointers per game and shooting 41.4 percent behind the arc.
ISU is 5-1 all-time against South Dakota State. The Jacks won the last meeting, 65-58, in 2008.
Welcome Back!
The South Dakota State staff has multiple ISU connections:
Head coach Eric Henderson was a graduate manager (2006-08) and learning specialist (2008-09) under Greg McDermott.
Assistant coach Bryan Petersen played for the Cyclones in 2007-08 and 2008-09 as a recruited walk-on. Petersen hit 97 career 3-pointers. Following his playing career, Petersen was a graduate assistant for the Cyclones for one season under McDermott and two under Fred Hoiberg. He went on to coach Kirkwood Community College to the NJCAA Division II Championship in 2016 and 2019, earning National Coach of the Year accolades both seasons.
SDSU Director of Operations Tyler Glidden was a student manager and graduate assistant under McDermott and Hoiberg from 2006-11.
Back row: Eric Henderson (third from left). Front Row: Bryan Petersen (third from left); Tyler Glidden (far right)
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