NCAA hits 5 Iowa State football staffers with penalties for sports betting
One current and four former Iowa State football staff members have been penalized by the NCAA for betting on professional and college games, including men’s and women’s basketball games involving the Cyclones.
How many bets were placed by the staff members at Iowa State?
The five coaches combined made more than 6,200 online bets, totaling more than $100,000 over three years. None of them face any criminal charges.
In a negotiated settlement, Jace Heacock, Chase Clark, Michael Dryer, Kyle Highland and Mason Williams acknowledged they violated NCAA sports wagering rules. The NCAA determined the conduct to be Level II violations. That includes “breaches of conduct that may compromise the integrity of college sports.”
They are subject to a one-year show-cause order through April 24, 2026. Suppose they are hired by another athletic department before that date. In that case, they must attend the annual NCAA Regional Rules Seminar and serve a two-week suspension before starting their new job.
According to the Associated Press, Iowa State’s athletic department declined to comment on the case on Friday, May 2.
Who are the staff members who placed bets?
Heacock is the son of Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock and served as a graduate assistant with the football team in 2021 and 2022. The university rehired him on April 24 as director of football analytics. He was found to have placed 787 bets totaling about $55,359.
Highland is now the assistant director for football operations at Army. Clark is an equipment manager with the Detroit Lions. Williams is an equipment manager at Valparaiso University, and Dryer now works in sales for a sporting goods company.
When and why did this investigation begin?
The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation informed Iowa State officials that their staff members were involved in its investigation into underage online sports wagering at colleges in the state between 2021 and 2023. Dozens of athletes at Iowa and Iowa State were caught in the sting.
In one of the highest-profile cases from that investigation, former Cyclone backup quarterback Hunter Dekkers was charged with “tampering with records” after making approximately 366 bets totaling $2,799, including a $15 bet in 2021 on Iowa State to beat Oklahoma State. Dekkers later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of underage gambling.
The NCAA revoked his eligibility in February 2024, and he played in the junior college ranks this past fall. He’s been invited to try out for the New Orleans Saints at their rookie mini-camp May 10-11.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
