Five Former Iowa State Football Staff Members Face NCAA Penalties for Sports Gambling
Five current or former members of the Iowa State University (ISU) football coaching staff have been sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for engaging in sports gambling activities. The violations included placing bets on ISU’s men’s and women’s basketball programs, raising concerns about the integrity of collegiate athletics.
The individuals involved, Jace Heacock, Chase Clark, Michael Dryer, Kyle Highland, and Mason Williams, will not face criminal charges in connection with the matter. However, the NCAA has determined that their actions warrant penalties due to the potential compromise of the integrity of the collegiate model.
Collectively, the five coaches placed over 6,200 online bets, totaling more than $100,000. While some of these bets were placed on professional sports events, a significant portion involved college sports, including ISU’s own basketball programs. The NCAA classified the violations as Level II, indicating a serious breach of its regulations.
As a result of the NCAA’s findings, any of the five coaches who are hired by another school’s athletic department will be required to attend the annual NCAA Regional Rules Seminar at their own expense. Additionally, they will each serve a two-week suspension during their respective show-cause periods. All five coaches are subject to a one-year show-cause order, effective through April 24, 2026.
The show-cause order means that any NCAA member institution that hires one of these coaches during the one-year period must show cause to the NCAA as to why the hiring should not be considered a violation of NCAA rules. The institution must also demonstrate that it has taken appropriate measures to ensure the coach’s compliance with NCAA regulations.
Jace Heacock, the son of ISU defensive coordinator Jon Heacock, served as a football graduate assistant in 2021 and 2022. He was subsequently re-hired as the director of football analytics on April 24. Notably, his biography on ISU’s athletic website did not provide information about his employment or activities during 2023 and 2024. The NCAA investigation revealed that Heacock placed 787 bets, totaling approximately $55,359.
Chase Clark, who previously served as the assistant director of football equipment operations at ISU, placed a total of 2,305 bets, amounting to around $18,676. Of these bets, 46 were placed on ISU men’s and women’s basketball games. Clark is currently employed as an assistant equipment manager for the Detroit Lions.
Michael Dryer, a former assistant of equipment operations at ISU, placed 1,182 bets, totaling approximately $11,536. The investigation revealed that 25 of these bets were placed on ISU men’s and women’s basketball games. Dryer is currently working in sales for a sporting goods company.
Kyle Highland, formerly a football recruiting operations assistant at ISU, placed 509 bets, totaling approximately $6,365. Among these bets, eight were placed on ISU men’s and women’s basketball games. Highland is currently employed as the Army’s assistant director of football operations.
Mason Williams, who previously served as an associate for athletics equipment operations at ISU, placed 1,455 bets, totaling approximately $11,679. The investigation revealed that 12 of these bets were placed on ISU men’s and women’s basketball games. Williams is currently the head equipment manager at Valparaiso University.
The five coaches were identified during a state investigation into sports wagering activities in campus athletic facilities that took place from 2021 to 2023. The state Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) provided 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.
The DCI’s investigation uncovered a widespread issue of underage gambling and identity theft among athletes at Iowa and Iowa State. Dozens of athletes were implicated in the sting and faced charges ranging from underage gambling to identity theft.
Many of the athletes involved pleaded guilty and paid fines, while charges were dismissed against others. In response to the investigation, more than three dozen athletes have joined in a civil lawsuit against the DCI, alleging that the agency violated their rights and tarnished their reputations.
The NCAA’s penalties against the five former Iowa State football staff members underscore the organization’s commitment to upholding the integrity of collegiate athletics. The regulations are put in place to try to maintain fair play, protect student-athletes, and prevent outside influences from impacting the outcome of games.
