Iowa State University Athletic Director Jamie Pollard has announced the hiring of Paul Rhoads, the defensive coordinator at Auburn, as the school’s new football coach
Rhoads was raised in Ankeny, Iowa. Rhoads was the defensive coordinator at Pitt before moving to Auburn. Rhoads also has a history at ISU as he was on the first staff of former Cyclone head coach Dan McCarney.
Rhoads will be introduced to the news media at 5 p.m. in the Jacobson Athletic Building and to Cyclone fans at halftime of the men’s basketball game tonight against Jacksonville State. Rhoads had this to say in a statement released by the I.S.U. athletic department:
"It has been a professional goal of mine to become a head coach since my dad introduced me to the game as a kid and I could not have found a more perfect place than Iowa State," said the 41-year-old Rhoads. "I know how special Ames and ISU were to me during my first tenure and having the chance to return and lead this program reads like a Hollywood script. I want to express my most sincere appreciation to Dr. Geoffroy and Jamie (Pollard) for the opportunity."
Rhoads agreed to a five-year deal worth $5.75 million in guaranteed compensation with incentives available to increase that total.