NCAA makes ruling on five Iowa State football staffers for online sports betting

The ruling is in from the NCAA for the five Iowa State football staffers who were found to have made more than 6,200 online bets, which totaled more than $100,000 on professional and college games, per ESPN. These games included men’s and women’s basketball games involving the Cyclones.

According to ESPN’s report, the five coaches in question — Jace Heacock, Chase Clark, Michael Dryer, Kyle Highland and Mason Williams — were identified during a state investigation into sports wagering activities in campus athletic facilities from 2021-23. They face no criminal charges, but the terms of their negotiated resolution have been finalized.

The five acknowledged they knowingly violated NCAA sports wagering bylaws, and all are subject to a one-year show-cause order through April 24, 2026, ESPN reported. Additionally, any of the five hired by another school’s athletic department will be required to attend the annual NCAA Regional Rules Seminar at their own expense and serve a two-week suspension during the show-cause period.

Iowa State’s athletic department did not elect to commit on the case on Friday when approached by ESPN. As for the NCAA, the violations were classified as Level II for the individuals involved, which means the breaches could compromise the integrity of the NCAA collegiate model, ESPN added.

Moreover, ESPN revealed the level of involvement each coach had in the sports wagering scandal. You can check out the report below.

• Jace Heacock — 787 bets totaling about $55,359
• Chase Clark —  2,305 bets totaling about $18,676, including 46 bets on ISU men’s and women’s basketball
• Michael Dryer — 1,182 bets totaling about $11,536, including 25 bets on ISU men’s and women’s basketball
• Kyle Highland — 509 bets totaling about $6,365, including eight bets on ISU men’s and women’s basketball
• Mason Williams — placed 1,455 bets totaling about $11,679, including 12 bets on ISU men’s and women’s basketball

The five coaches were found out after State Department of Criminal Investigation turned over the names of the five men to Iowa State officials as part of its investigation into underage online sports wagering at colleges in the state, ESPN reported. They weren’t the only ones charged, as the athletes at Iowa and Iowa State who were caught in the sting were charged with, among other things, underage gambling and identity theft.

Many of the athletes pleaded guilty and paid a fine, and charges were dismissed against others, ESPN added. Additionally, over three dozen athletes have joined a lawsuit against the DCI, alleging the agency violated their rights and smeared their reputations. Time will tell if their case has legs or not.