NCAA Disciplines Ex-ISU Staffers Who Placed Unauthorized Bets

The NCAA has disciplined five former Iowa State football staffers who violated its strict rules on insider betting. The violators in this case wagered thousands of dollars despite the organization’s prohibition.

Five Former Staffers Breached the NCAA’s Rules

Last week, ex-Iowa State football staff members Chase Clark, Jace Heacock, Kyle Highlands, Mason Williams, and Michael Dryer admitted to having knowingly violated the NCAA’s sports betting codes by placing many wagers on multiple games, including ones involving the Iowa State Cyclones.

Between 2021 and 2023, the five violators placed a total of 6,200 online bets totaling over $100,000. The NCAA understood that the wagers were placed on both professional and college games. As mentioned, this also included games involving the Cyclones men’s and women’s teams.

The violations were identified during a state investigation into on-campus sports betting. The NCAA classified them as Level II violations – a classification encompassing activities that could undermine the NCAA’s integrity.

The Five Violators Face No Criminal Charges

As it turns out, the five staffers who violated the NCAA’s rules do not face criminal charges. Instead, a negotiated resolution, which was finalized last week, rules that the five will be subject to a one-year show-cause order. The order will therefore be effective until April 24, 2026.

In the meantime, the five former staffers will also be required to attend the NCAA’s annual Regional Rules Seminar at their own expense. Finally, each of them will serve a two-week suspension during the show-cause period.

The names of the five violators were turned over to the NCAA by the local Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI). In addition to them, the NCAA learned of multiple smaller cases of underage and athlete wagering, resulting in additional charges and, in some cases, fines.

Some athletes launched a lawsuit against the DCI, complaining that the agency has violated their rights.

How Much Did the Five Ex-Staffers Wager?

According to reports, Clark, who is a former assistant director of football equipment operations, placed a total of 2,305 bets totaling roughly $18,676. These included 46 wagers on the Cyclones. Clark is currently an assistant equipment manager for the Detroit Lions.

Heacock, on the other hand, placed 787 bets totaling roughly $55,359. He is the son of defensive coordinator Jon Heacock and is currently serving as director of football analytics at Iowa State.

Highland, now serving as Army’s assistant director of football operations, was found guilty of having placed 508 wagers totaling $6,365. These included 8 bets on the ISU men’s and women’s teams. He placed the bets during his time as ISU’s football recruiting operations assistant.

Williams, meanwhile, placed 12 bets on the ISU teams. In total, he placed 1,455 bets totaling roughly $11,679. He is a former associate for athletics equipment operations.

Finally, Dryer, who is likewise a former associate for athletics equipment operations, placed 1,182 bets totaling $11,536. He is currently a field sales professional for Northwest Central Iowa at a sports equipment retailer.