Five current or former Iowa State athletic department employees have been disciplined by the NCAA for placing over 6,200 online bets amounting to more than $100,000, involving professional and college games, including Cyclones basketball. Identified during a state investigation into sports wagering, these individuals face a one-year show-cause order, requiring attendance at the NCAA Regional Rules Seminar and a suspension if hired by another athletic department. The NCAA classified these violations as Level II, suggesting potential harm to the collegiate model's integrity. Among the disciplined, Jace Heacock, Chase Clark, Michael Dryer, Kyle Highland, and Mason Williams placed numerous bets, with Heacock responsible for the largest sum. The investigation also uncovered underage wagering among athletes, leading to various legal consequences and a civil lawsuit against the Department of Criminal Investigation for alleged rights violations.

The NCAA has disciplined five Iowa State athletic department members for making over 6,200 online bets totaling more than $100,000 on various games, including Cyclones basketball. These actions were discovered during a state investigation into sports betting within campus athletic facilities from 2021 to 2023.

The disciplined individuals, identified as Jace Heacock, Chase Clark, Michael Dryer, Kyle Highland, and Mason Williams, have acknowledged violating NCAA sports wagering bylaws. They are subjected to a one-year show-cause order until April 2026, requiring attendance at an NCAA seminar and a suspension if rehired in athletics.

The NCAA labeled these actions as Level II violations, indicating that they could undermine the integrity of the collegiate model, which is seen as a serious breach within the organization's regulatory framework.

Jace Heacock, a former football graduate assistant and current director of football analytics, placed 787 bets totaling approximately $55,359, marking the highest amount among the five. His employment details for 2023 and 2024 remain undisclosed.

Chase Clark, previously an assistant director of football equipment operations and now with the Detroit Lions, placed 2,305 bets totaling $18,676. His betting included 46 wagers on ISU basketball games.

The investigation into sports wagering also exposed underage gambling among athletes at Iowa and Iowa State, resulting in legal action, fines, and a civil lawsuit against the Department of Criminal Investigation for alleged rights violations.

The state Department of Criminal Investigation provided Iowa State officials with the names of the five involved in the betting, which was part of a broader investigation into illegal sports wagering activities at state colleges.