Iowa State is your opportunity to test yourself against the best n n n n
World-class education Big 12 athletics competition Top shelf training & competitive facilities Incredibly loyal and loud fans
Click through these pages to learn more.
LEARNING at Iowa State University
Iowa State University ... is a stimulating research institution with eight colleges –– Agriculture, Business, Design, Engineering, Human Sciences, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Veterinary Medicine and Graduate –– offering more than 200 fields of study.
Academic mission Our mission at Iowa State University is to create, share and apply knowledge to make the world a better place. That innovativeness is documented in the fact that ISU ranks second nationally in licenses granted on its inventions.
Iowa State is... more than 31,000 students benefitting from an enriching academic curriculum, a renowned faculty and a funloving school spirit. And, within six months of receiving their degrees, approximately 95% of ISU graduates find jobs or continue their education.
How we rank? U.S. News & World Report says that Iowa State University ... • is among the top onefourth of all public national universities. • is home to one of the nation’s “learning communities to look for.”
Difference makers • The world’s first digital computer was invented at ISU by John Atanasoff. • Lipitor, the biggestselling drug in history, was developed by alum Bruce Roth. • George Washington Carver (pictured) is a world renowned plant scientist, who earned two degrees from Iowa State.
Academic facilities The Hixson-Lied Student Success Center (pictured) was opened in 2007. It includes space for academic tutors, a resource library, computer labs and study rooms. The Rod & Connie French Athletics Academic Center (second floor of the facility) is dedicated for student-athlete use only. It is conveniently located for easy access.
Living the college life at Iowa State University
Ames is home ... to Iowa State University, a prestigious institution of higher learning and a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. The city’s friendly hometown personality is annually ranked among the top small cities in the nation to live, work and play.
A great place to live With a population of more than 50,000, Ames is revered for its friendliness and its varied entertainment and cultural opportunities. Main street often bustles with parades and festivals (below) and Campustown (right) is full of shops and eateries, popular among students.
Beauty of Iowa State ISU has one of only three campuses nationally to earn a medallion (for its beauty) from the American Society of Landscape Architects. Its more than 2,000-acre campus includes 200 buildings, many of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. The Campanile on central campus is pictured.
Centralized location Iowa State is located minutes from an interstate exchange meaning that it is less than a day’s drive from Minneapolis (204 miles), Kansas City (208), Omaha (131), St. Louis (295), Milwaukee (290) or Chicago (307). The state capital -- Des Moines (pictured) -- is 30 minutes from central campus. Located in the heart of the midwest, Ames boasts of a small-town charm with large city amenities nearby.
Factually Speaking • Ames is ranked the thirdbest college town by the American Institute for Economic Research. • Ames is among the top-10 places to live in America. • America’s Promise Alliance named Ames one of the 100 best communities for young people.
The great outdoors If you enjoy the outdoors, Ames offers the nationally acclaimed, 14-acre Reiman Gardens, 33 woodland parks and 55 miles of bike and pedestrian trails. The opportunities are limited only by your imagination.
Leisure time ISU students love to congregate on central campus and the Memorial Union (right). Entertainment options range from Big 12 athletics to Broadway shows; pop artists to comedy acts and dance recitals to operas. Iowa State has played host to acts like Kenny Chesney (pictured), Billy Joel, the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Paul McCartney and many others.
COMPETING for the Cyclones
The Big 12 is big time Iowa State is a member of the prestigious Big 12 and it participates on both a national and league basis in 18 Division IA intercollegiate sports. If you want to test yourself against the best, then the Big 12 is for you. Bowls. Tournaments. Olympians. Future pros. NCAA Champions. Academic All-Americans. Challenge yourself at ISU.
Cyclone Spirit • ISU’s student spirit was ranked No. 1 nationally in an ESPN.com survey. • Cy was voted the nation’s most intimidating mascot as well as mascot of the year in consecutive seasons.
Faithful following Pre-game spirit, a great band, an award-winning mascot and a renowned student section are all part of a memorable gameday experience. Cyclone Nation loves its student-athletes. Join our family and wear the cardinal and gold proudly.
Support services Support units for Iowa State Athletics create specialized programs to benefit each individual Cyclone as it relates to their personal needs and desires in the areas of: • • • • •
Academic Support Strength & Conditioning Sports Medicine Media Training Video Analysis
Giving back ... is part of playing for the Cyclones. Iowa State studentathletes, through the work of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), are active in the community and love that opportunity to give back.
Cyclone success • 18 NCAA championships • 122 conference champs • 52 Olympians • 7 Olympic gold medalists • 119 NFL draft picks • 35 NBA draft picks • 12 WNBA draft picks
Homes for the Cyclones Competition and training facilities for Iowa State studentathletes are among the finest in the region.
Why the Cyclones? • ACADEMICS––The Association of American Universities is a collection of the 60 most noteworthy institutions of higher learning in the U.S. Iowa State University was accepted into the AAU in 1958. • ATHLETICS––Being a Cyclone means you’ll be challenged by the nation’s finest competition in front of fan bases that are among the loudest and most knowledgeable in the nation. • AMES––A community that offers small-town charm and big city amenities within a short driving distance.
Iowa State Cyclone Women’s Basketball
n n n n
An Elite Program Fanatic Fans First-Rate Facilities Dedicated Coaches
Click through these pages to learn more.
Elite Status Head Coach Bill Fennelly has transformed the Iowa State women’s basketball team into a perennial contender in the Big 12 Conference and the nation. Fennelly has directed the Cyclones to a pair of Elite Eight berths and three Big 12 titles. Iowa State has the second-most Big 12 tournament wins in the league.
Postseason Experience There’s no better feeling than seeing your school’s name appear on ESPN during the NCAA Selection Show (middle left photo), and the Cyclones have become a regular invitee to the “Big Dance.” Iowa State has earned 14 NCAA Championship berths, including a pair of Elite Eight appearances and five trips to the Sweet 16, during head coach Bill Fennelly’s tenure. ISU has been to seven consecutive NCAA tournaments, one of just 13 schools to do so.
Hilton Magic There’s no place quite like it in college basketball. When more than 10,000 loyal, screaming Cyclone women’s basketball fans invade beautiful James H. Hilton Coliseum, it’s the biggest party in the Midwest! Iowa State ranked second in the nation in Division I Women’s Basketball attendance, behind only Tennessee. The Cyclones have ranked in the top 10 in NCAA attendance for the last 14 seasons, including the top four the last six seasons.
The Big 12 The Big 12 Conference is the greatest women’s basketball league in the country. For 14 years straight, the league has led the nation in attendance. The Big 12 again ranked first in conference RPI in 2013. Three squads advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. Iowa State boasts three Big 12 Championship titles.
Finest Facilities The Cyclones moved into a brand new, state-of-the-art basketball practice facility in September 2009. The Sukup Basketball Complex is dedicated exclusively to the basketball programs, including separate gymnasiums, locker rooms, player lounges and coaches’ offices for each team. The Cyclones train at the highest level with technology second-to-none in their theater room and a strength and conditioning facility devoted strictly to basketball.
Seeing the World Basketball has opened the door to the world for Iowa State studentathletes. In the last five seasons, the ISU women’s basketball team has traveled to 18 states, including Hawaii. The Cyclones also visited the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Bahamas. Over the last nine seasons, the Cyclones have traveled to the likes of the Bahamas, Hawaii, Malibu, Calif., Grand Bahama Island, the Virgin Islands and Las Vegas.
Coach Fennelly Bill Fennelly has had unprecedented success at Iowa State. He has led the Cyclones to 16 postseason tournament berths in his 18 seasons, and is ranked as one of the winningest coaches in the nation, with a career record of 562-235 (.705). Fennelly has served as a USA Basketball coach on four different occasions, including head coach of the World University Games team in the summer of 2011.
Dedicated Staff The ISU coaching staff is among the nation’s most respected. Associate head coach Jodi Steyer served on Fennelly’s staff at Toledo, while assistant coach Latoja Schaben was an AllAmerican center under Fennelly at Toledo. Steyer is in her 12th season at ISU, while Schaben is in her 16th. Billy Fennelly is in his second season as an assistant coach and his fourth overall at Iowa State. Director of Operations Josh Carper is in his sixth season on Fennelly’s staff. In 2012, ISU added strength coach Pete Link as a full-time staff member.
Jodi Steyer
Billy Fennelly
Josh Carper
Latoja Schaben
Pete Link
Cyclones in the Pros The Cyclone coaching staff takes pride in developing players and allowing them to continue a career in basketball.
Kelsey Bolte
Mary Cofield
Anne O’Neil Chelsea Poppens
Heather Ezell
Anna Prins
Mary Fox
Toccara Ross
DesirĂŠe Francis
Megan Taylor
Stacy Frese
Tracy Gahan
Alison Lacey
Nicky Wieben Brittany Wilkins Lindsey Wilson
Lyndsey Medders
Angie Welle
In the 17-year history of the WNBA, the Cyclones have had 12 players drafted, the third most in the Big 12. Chelsea Poppens and Anna Prins were the most recent draft picks in 2013. Several Cyclones (pictured left) have gone onto long and successful careers in the WNBA and professional leagues overseas.
First-Class Education Academics is a top priority for head coach Bill Fennelly and his coaching staff. Student-athletes have graduated at a 100 percent rate when finishing their eligibility at Iowa State under his watch. Student-athletes have access to the Rod and Connie French Academic Success Center which is housed on campus in the Hixson-Lied Student Success Center. It is home to a staff of athletics academic counselors, who work in a 33,500-square foot facility that includes computer labs, counselor offices, testing centers, classrooms, study lounges and other spaces.
In the Spotlight All of Iowa State’s women’s basketball games were televised last season, with games on Cyclones.TV, ESPN and FSN, as well as other networks. ISU frequently makes appearances in nationally televised nationally contests. The Cyclones have a loyal media following both in the state of Iowa and nationally.
Giving Back The Iowa State women’s basketball team takes numerous opportunities to participate in community service projects throughout the year, reading at schools, visiting nursing homes and children’s hospitals, participating in Special Olympics and many more.