Iowa State is your opportunity to test yourself against the best World-class education Big 12 athletics competition Top shelf training & competitive facilities Incredibly loyal and loud fans Click through these pages to learn more.
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 25,000 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 one of the Top 50 Public Universities in the United States. • is home to one of the Top 25 learning communities in the nation.
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. • Carrie Chapman Catt (League of Women Voters founder) graduated from Iowa State. • George Washington Carver (pictured) is a world renowned plant scientist, who earned two degrees from ISU.
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.
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 the second mostlivable “Small City” in the U.S. according to the New Rating Guide to Life in American Small Cities. • Ames is the 20th best place to live in America according to Men’s Journal.
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 and many others.
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 6 Olympic gold medalists 115 NFL draft picks 33 NBA draft picks 8 WNBA draft picks
Homes for the Cyclones Competition and training facilities for Iowa State studentathletes are among the finest in the region.
• 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
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. Last season, Fennelly directed the Cyclones to their second NCAA Elite Eight berth in the last 10 years, and he has led ISU to the NCAA Sweet 16 four times in his 14 seasons at the helm.
Postseason Experience There’s no better feeling than seeing your school’s name appear on ESPN during the NCAA Selection Show (far right photo), and the Cyclones have become a regular invitee to the “Big Dance.” Iowa State has earned 10 NCAA Championship berths, including a pair of Elite Eight appearances and four trips to the Sweet 16, during head coach Bill Fennelly’s tenure. ISU has been to three consecutive NCAA tournaments.
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! The place isn’t just loud, it’s deafening. And over the last decade, Hilton Magic is responsible for college basketball’s biggest home court advantage. Last season, Iowa State ranked third in the nation in Division I Women’s Basketball attendance.
The Big 12 The Big 12 Conference is the greatest women’s basketball league in the country. For 10 years straight, the Big 12 has led the nation in attendance. The Big 12 ranked first in conference RPI and four squads advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the third time in conference history in 2009. Iowa State boasts three Big 12 Championship titles and has won more Big 12 tournament games than any other school in the league.
Finest Facilities The Cyclones moved into a brand new, state-of-the-art basketball practice facility in September. The facility is dedicated exclusively to the basketball programs, including separate gymnasiums, locker rooms, player lounges and coaches’ offices for each team. The Cyclones will 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. Last season alone, the ISU women’s basketball team traveled to eight states, including a Thanksgiving tournament in Hawaii. Over the last six seasons, the Cyclones have traveled to the likes of 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 12 postseason tournament berths in his 14 seasons, and is ranked as one of the winningest coaches in the nation, with a career record of 473-194 (.709). Fennelly has been selected to coach for USA Basketball the last two summers, helping guide USA teams to a pair of gold medals.
Dedicated Staff The ISU coaching staff has been together for six seasons, creating stability for Cyclone student-athletes. Associate head coach Jack Easley is one of the most respected assistant coaches in the country and carries over 30 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level. Jodi Steyer served on Fennelly’s staff at Toledo, while Schaben was an All-American center under Fennelly at Toledo. Steyer is in her eighth season at ISU, while Schaben is in her 12th.
Associate Head Coach Jack Easley
Assistant Coach Jodi Steyer
Assistant Coach Latoja Schaben
Director of Operations Josh Carper
Cyclones in the Pros The Cyclone coaching staff takes pride in developing players and allowing them to continue a career in basketball when their time as a collegiate player is finished. In the 13-year history of the WNBA, the Cyclones have had eight players drafted, the third most in the Big 12. Mary Cofield
Heather Ezell
Mary Fox
DesirĂŠe Francis
Stacy Frese
Tracy Gahan
Lyndsey Medders
Anne O’Neil
Toccara Ross
Megan Taylor
Nicky Wieben
Brittany Wilkins
Lindsey Wilson
Angie Welle
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 Nearly half of Iowa State’s women’s basketball games were televised last season, with five of those games being broadcast on an ESPN channel. ISU was televised nationally in 12 contests in 2008-09. The Cyclones have a loyal media following both in the state of Iowa and nationally. Most of ISU’s home games are also streamed live at cyclones.com.
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, participating in Special Olympics and many more.