Five current or former Iowa State football coaches have been penalized by the NCAA for engaging in a betting scandal involving over 6,200 bets totaling more than $100,000, including wagers on their school's basketball programs. These infractions are classified as Level II, which means they could potentially compromise the integrity of the NCAA collegiate model. The coaches, identified as Jace Heacock, Chase Clark, Michael Dryer, Kyle Highland, and Mason Williams, will face a one-year show-cause order until April 2026 and must attend an NCAA seminar and serve a two-week suspension if hired by another athletic department. This betting activity was uncovered during a state investigation into sports wagering within college facilities, which also implicated dozens of athletes in underage gambling and identity theft. The investigation not only led to fines and dismissals of charges against athletes but also resulted in a civil lawsuit against the Department of Criminal Investigation, alleging rights violations and reputation damage.

The NCAA has punished five Iowa State football coaching staff members for engaging in illegal sports gambling, which included betting on their own school's men's and women's basketball games, totaling over $100,000 through more than 6,200 online bets.

These violations are classified as Level II by the NCAA, indicating potential threats to the integrity of the collegiate athletic model, yet the coaches will not face criminal charges.

The involved coaches, namely Jace Heacock, Chase Clark, Michael Dryer, Kyle Highland, and Mason Williams, will have a one-year show-cause order and must attend an NCAA seminar, alongside a two-week suspension if hired by another institution.

The scandal was uncovered during a broader state investigation into sports betting activities at college athletic facilities from 2021 to 2023, which also exposed underage gambling among athletes.

As a result of the investigation, many athletes were fined or had charges dropped, and a civil lawsuit was filed against the state's Department of Criminal Investigation, alleging violations of rights and damage to reputations.